The Frankfurt Superior Court announced today that two more of the former Auschwitz death camp personnel, convicted here in a marathon war crimes trial, have been released pending the outcome of appeals from the verdict.
The court said that former SS Sgt. Hans Stark, 44, and former Cpl. Perry Brod, 44, have been freed because there was no suspicion that they would try to flee the court’s jurisdiction. Stark was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, and Brod to four years, on conviction of participation in scores of killings at the death camp during the war.
Several weeks ago, the court ordered the release from prison of another of the defendants convicted in the Auschwits trial, Robert Mulka. Sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment, he was released “for reasons of health” and is scheduled to undergo physical examination by a court-appointed doctor.
After the 20-month trial ended last August, both the prosecution and defense filed appeals which may take a year or more to settle. The two former SS officers, plus 14 other former camp personnel convicted in the trial, have been held since in “investigative custody” pending action on the appeals. Under West German law, a sentence does not begin officially until appeals are completed.
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