The statute of limitations which is applicable to Nazi war criminals may be prolonged beyond its December 31. 1969 termination date or possibly abolished altogether in crimes involving murder and genocide. Minister of Justice Gustav Heinemann, at a press conference here, disclosed that a commission for law reform has suggested that the statute of limitations be extended from 20 to 30 years but, even if this is done, it is not likely to cover crimes already committed. Mr. Heinemann himself proposed two months ago that the statute of limitations be abolished in cases of murder. He said at his press conference that more and more members of Parliament favor abolition but there was the question of whether the United Nations will establish a convention abolishing the statute for genocide. If Germany accepted this, it could be the solution, he added.
In reply to questions, Mr. Heinemann said it appeared that the Central Office for Nazi Crimes, in Ludwigsburg, would complete its cases by 1969. However, Ludwigsburg was surprised, he said, by the new evidence it has received, especially from the Netherlands, of hitherto unknown Nazi war criminals who participated in the deportation of Dutch Jews. The Soviet Union has also recently agreed to provide state prosecutors with additional evidence and, as time passes, Mr. Heinemann said, documentary evidence becomes more important than eye witnesses.
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