Papon's appeal considered
01 March 2004
In February the nazi war criminal Maurice Papon was told that France's highest appeal court, the Cour de Cassation, would consider a limited appeal, on points of law, of his conviction for complicity in crimes against humanity. In 1998 Papon was convicted of rounding-up Jews and transporting them to Auschwitz concentration camp in his role as secretary-general of the "Service for Jewish Affairs" of the Vichy government between 1942-44. The facts of the case will only be re-heard by the court if it decides that Papon's trial was faulty in law or procedure. Relatives of Papon's victims have criticised the ruling. Papon has already been released from his life sentence on grounds of ill-health.
Times 19.2.04