Kepiro lawyer to appeal acquittal ruling
Source: Agencies |
July 21, 2011, Thursday
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Print Edition
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THE lawyer for a 97-year-old man acquitted of war crimes charges in Hungary said yesterday that he has appealed the ruling because it does not go far enough in clearing his client.
Charges that Sandor Kepiro, a former captain in a special security force, was responsible for the deaths of 36 people during raids by Hungarian forces in northern Serbia during World War II were dismissed on Monday by a Budapest court because of insufficient evidence. Defense lawyer Zsolt Zetenyi told The Associated Press that he has filed an appeal asking that Kepiro's acquittal be based instead on the fact that he did not commit any crimes during the January 1942 raids that killed some 1,200 civilians, mostly Serbs and Jews.
Kepiro, whose trial started on May 5, was transported to Monday's court session by ambulance and was taken back to hospital after Judge Bela Varga announced the verdict, spending only a few minutes in the courtroom.
"Kepiro is stable but he is expected to remain hospitalized for several weeks," Zetenyi said.
Prosecutor Zsolt Falvai said on Tuesday, after the two-day reading of the explanation of the verdict concluded, that he also would appeal the ruling, which can be done until Friday.
"There are problems with the verdict, which I consider to be unfounded," Falvai said. "My opinion is that in several instances the reasons for the judgment are inconsistent and contradictory."
Judge Varga said the appeal would be fast-tracked and could be heard as early as September, after the end of the judicial recess.
Kepiro's acquittal drew strong condemnation from both Serbian and Jewish groups.
Charges that Sandor Kepiro, a former captain in a special security force, was responsible for the deaths of 36 people during raids by Hungarian forces in northern Serbia during World War II were dismissed on Monday by a Budapest court because of insufficient evidence. Defense lawyer Zsolt Zetenyi told The Associated Press that he has filed an appeal asking that Kepiro's acquittal be based instead on the fact that he did not commit any crimes during the January 1942 raids that killed some 1,200 civilians, mostly Serbs and Jews.
Kepiro, whose trial started on May 5, was transported to Monday's court session by ambulance and was taken back to hospital after Judge Bela Varga announced the verdict, spending only a few minutes in the courtroom.
"Kepiro is stable but he is expected to remain hospitalized for several weeks," Zetenyi said.
Prosecutor Zsolt Falvai said on Tuesday, after the two-day reading of the explanation of the verdict concluded, that he also would appeal the ruling, which can be done until Friday.
"There are problems with the verdict, which I consider to be unfounded," Falvai said. "My opinion is that in several instances the reasons for the judgment are inconsistent and contradictory."
Judge Varga said the appeal would be fast-tracked and could be heard as early as September, after the end of the judicial recess.
Kepiro's acquittal drew strong condemnation from both Serbian and Jewish groups.
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