Court Orders Reassessment of 100-Year-Old Former Nazi Guard's Trial Eligibility

The Frankfurt Higher Regional Court has overturned a decision blocking the trial of a man accused of aiding over 3,300 murders at Sachsenhausen concentration camp.

• The Frankfurt Higher Regional Court has instructed the Hanau District Court to reevaluate the trial eligibility of a 100-year-old man accused of serving as a guard at Sachsenhausen concentration camp during World War II.
• The original decision to block the trial, based on a medical assessment deeming the defendant unfit for court proceedings, was overturned due to identified flaws in the expert's report.
• The man is accused of aiding in the murder of over 3,300 prisoners between 1943 and 1945 through his role in the SS guard unit, which oversaw transport and imprisonment of detainees.
• The case holds significant historical importance, as it could potentially be one of the last trials addressing Nazi-era war crimes due to the advanced age of remaining suspects.
• While the reassessment process may take several months, legal experts emphasize the urgency of resolving the matter given the defendant's age and health.

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