The Palestine Supreme Court today rejected Tel Aviv Mayor Israel Rokach’s petition for an order to set aside the sentence condemning Dov Gruner to death, and refused to grant permission for an appeal to the Privy Council in London. Rokach’s attorney, however, announced that he plans to appeal to the Council.
The Supreme Court ruled that Rokach was not competent to press the petition because he was not a directly interested party. Chief Justice Sir William Fitzgerald turned down the request that the same plea be forwarded to the Privy Council on the grounds that the Palestine Court did not have jurisdiction in the matter.
Several weeks ago, in rejecting another appeal by Frank Gruner, uncle of the condemned Irgunist, the Privy Council had indicated that a plea from a representative of the Jewish community might have legal weight. The High Court’s decision apparently forestalls the possibility of further appeals to halt Gruner’s execution.
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