The trial of John Demjanjuk, the alleged Treblinka death camp guard known to inmates as “Ivan the Terrible,” is expected to begin early in 1987, Justice Ministry sources said Tuesday.
They said the charge sheet against the Ukrainian-born former resident of Cleveland, Ohio, is presently under study by State Attorney Yona Blatman and a final draft should be ready to be presented in court before the end of the month. Demjanjuk, who was stripped of his U.S. citizenship, is the only suspected Nazi war criminal extradited to Israel to stand trial. His current remand in custody expires October 1.
He was brought here last February 28 and has been confined to a maximum security prison near Ramle without being formally charged. Justice Ministry sources denied speculation that the State prosecutors were finding it difficult to put together an air tight case against the 65-year-old former automobile worker. The sources said the relatively long delay in filing charges is due to the “masses of evidence” which had to be processed.
Demjanjuk allegedly operated the gas chambers at Treblinka where 900,000 Jews died in 1942 and 1943. He insists he is a victim of mistaken identity. That, apparently, will be the line of defense by his American attorney who has been granted permission by the Justice Ministry to plead before an Israeli court.
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