In a published statement the Graubunden Count explained today its reasons for sentencing to 18 years in prison David Frankfurter, young Jewish medical student whom it convicted at Chur last Dec. 14 of having slain Wilhelm Gustloff, Swiss Nazi agent.
The statement establishes that the crime was premeditated by definitely rejects the idea of a plot in which other persons were connected.
“Frankfurter’s planning suicide,” the court states, “shows he carried out the crime himself, without the participation of other people.”
As extenuating circumstances the court lists the following:
Frankfurter’s voluntary surrender to the police; the fact that he had never before been convicted of a crime; testimony by the mental experts that Frankfurter suffered from mental depression which led him to commit murder.
On the other hand, the court rejects the contention, offered by the defense counsel, that Jewish persecutions in Germany had influenced Frankfurter’s act.
It also refuses to accept the allegation that Gustloff acted as a Nazi agent in Switzerland.
A revision of the verdict will be asked by Dr. Eugen Curti, defense counsel, it was learned here following publication of the statement.
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