Nazi hitman on trial for murder of Dutch civilians

CONFESSED Nazi hitman Heinrich Boere went on trial yesterday in the western city of Aachen, charged with the 1944 murders of three Dutch civilians in reprisal for partisan attacks.

The 88-year-old was brought into the courtroom in a wheelchair and had a doctor by his side as the proceedings began, but looked alert and attentive as he answered the presiding judge’s questions with one-word responses.

The resident ofEschweiler, on the outskirts of Aachen, faces the rest of his life in prison, if convicted of the killings of a bicycle-shop owner, a pharmacist and another civilian while part of an SS death squad codenamed “Silbertanne,” or “Silver Pine”.

Protesters outside the state court building held up black banners that read “No peace for Nazi criminals” and “Don’t forgive, Don’t forget.” Jeers of “Nazis Out!” and “Nazi pigs!” broke out in the courtroom when two far-right skinhead supporters of Boere entered the viewing gallery.

However, the session was adjourned before lunchtime before the formal charges against Boere were read out after the five-judge panel said it needed time to consider a defence motion to have lead prosecutor Ulrich Maass removed from the trial. The defence argued that Maass made statements to the Dutch and German press that called his objectivity into question, and Maass said he would need until Monday to respond to the allegations before the court.

The trial is scheduled over 13 days through December 18, but could last longer.