The four-month-long trial of Adolf Eichmann, which has attracted worldwide attention, closes tomorrow, after the final summation of the defense case by Eichmann’s attorney, Dr. Robert Servatius.
Dr. Servatius is expected to take no more than three or four hours for his final address. Attorney General Gideon Hausner, the chief prosecutor, made his summation during three full days of court sessions last week. Under Israeli law, the last word belongs to the defense.
As soon as Dr. Servatius is done, the three jurists –Presiding Judge Moshe Landau, a member of Israel’s Supreme Court; and the two auxiliary judges, Dr. Yitzhak Raveh and Dr. Binyamin Halevy — will start their deliberations. It is believed that the verdict will be issued in October or November.
Meanwhile, the prisoner, officially referred to in the 15-point indictment as “Adolf the Son of Adolf Karl. Eichmann, ” will be taken to a secret place of imprisonment. During the trial, he was incarcerated between sessions in a special cell at the Beit Haam, appearing in open court under a heavy, three-man guard in a glass enclosed, bulletproof booth.
Dr. Servatius has announced that he will return to Germany Tuesday. He will be notified by the court in time to return here to hear the verdict.
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