A British military court here today sentenced two members of the “Stern Gang,” outlawed Jewish terrorist group, to ten and four years imprisonment on charges of illegal possession of a revolver, several rounds of ammunition and a small bomb.
The defendants, Anshel Shpilman, 27, and Cashia Shapiro, 19, defended themselves since their attorneys refused to conduct the defense along the lines they laid down. Shpilman received the heavier sentence.
Both men addressed the court at great length, denying its right to try them on the ground that they were belligerents in a war against the British administration. “It has never been heard that one side should take away arms from the other side, and then try them,” Shpilman said. They expressed regret that they had not been given an opportunity to use their arms – “to kill or to be killed,” adding that their weapons were intended for use only in defense against an oppressive rule.
Documents found on Shpilman indicated that he was in charge of propaganda and publicity for the Stern group. They were arrested in Shapiro’s room in Tel Aviv on March 10.
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