Representatives of the world press, radio and television converged here again today at the Beth Haam, the scene of Adolf Eichmann’s long, four-month trial last summer, to attend the reading of the court’s verdict in the case against the former Gestapo colonel accused of crimes against the Jewish people and crimes against humanity.
The rendering of the verdict is scheduled to begin at 9 o’clock tomorrow morning. The three-man tribunal, consisting of Presiding Justice Moshe Landau and Judges Binyamin Halevi and Yitzhak Raveh, adjourned for deliberations last August 11, after hearing the case in 112 trial sessions.
Once again today, as during the trial, full security measures were in effect, special police patroling the entire court area outside and keeping watch inside. All reporters and other representatives of communications media were searched as they entered the converted community center where the district court will resume its activities tomorrow. Once again, an insurance policy for 1, 500, 000 pounds against all contingencies connected with the trial was re-activated by Lloyd’s of London.
The reading of the verdict, in Hebrew, will be translated into English, French, German and Yiddish. The proceedings will be broadcast directly from the courtroom. For the benefit of Jewish immigrants in this country, special broadcasts will be transemitted in Polish and Hungarian.
The indictment against Eichmann, charging him with directing the annihilation of 6, 000, 000 European Jews, consists of 15 counts. He could be found guilty–or innocent–on any one of all of the counts. Should he be found innocent on all counts, he could walk out of the courtroom a free man unless there is a request from some other country for his extradition.
Should the verdict declare him guilty on any or all counts, Attorney General Gideon Hausner, as chief prosecutor, would be requested by the court to address it regarding the penalty. Following Mr. Hausner, Dr. Robert Servatius of Cologne, chief defense counsel, would be asked by the court whether he desires to plead mitigating circumstances.
Dr. Servatius may also ask the court, if he chooses to do so, to present witnesses. He may also ask for an adjournment, pending his introduction of character witnesses, or pending preparation of his final address. If those pleas are granted, there could be an adjournment of the proceedings for several days.
Should the court find the defendant guilty, and sentence the man, Dr. Servatius would have 10 days for filing an appeal. In case of acquittal, the Attorney General would have two months for filing his appeal. Any appeal, under Israeli law, would have to be heard by at least three members of Israel’s Supreme Court. In case of conviction and sentencing, the defense would still have the right to appeal to President Izhak Ben-Zvi for clemency.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
