Former Nazi guard acquitted after evidence was lost
euronews (in English)
2014-01-08
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One of Germany’s last war crimes trials has ended. Dutch-born 92-year-old Siert Bruins a security and border guard during World War Two was accused of killing a Dutch resistance fighter.
The judge ordered the case to be dropped because too much evidence had been lost in the seven decades since the event.
Prosecutors, who had been calling for a life sentence, had argued at the trial, which started in September, that Bruins killed a Dutch citizen, Aldert Klaas Dijkema, who was suspected of working for the resistance against German occupation of the Netherlands in September 1944.
They said Dutch-born Bruins and another man, who has since died, shot Dijkema four times, once in the back of the head, possibly while he was fleeing. Prosecutors had called for a life sentence.
White-haired Bruins, who showed little emotion, left the court with the help of a walking frame.
Detlef Hartmann, lawyer for the victim’s sister, told reporters he was shocked at the court’s decision.
“My cli
The judge ordered the case to be dropped because too much evidence had been lost in the seven decades since the event.
Prosecutors, who had been calling for a life sentence, had argued at the trial, which started in September, that Bruins killed a Dutch citizen, Aldert Klaas Dijkema, who was suspected of working for the resistance against German occupation of the Netherlands in September 1944.
They said Dutch-born Bruins and another man, who has since died, shot Dijkema four times, once in the back of the head, possibly while he was fleeing. Prosecutors had called for a life sentence.
White-haired Bruins, who showed little emotion, left the court with the help of a walking frame.
Detlef Hartmann, lawyer for the victim’s sister, told reporters he was shocked at the court’s decision.
“My cli
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