Trial Of 96 Year Old Former Nazi Secretary

[naomi24]

A former secretary at a Nazi concentration camp has been captured after trying to flee before her trial in northern Germany. Irmgard Furchner, 96, charged with complicity in 11,000 murders, fled her care home and failed to turn up at court. She has since been discovered and arrested and is awaiting trial.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-58747082

The question is should she stand trial after all these years and at her advanced age - or is it too late?

[naomi24]

Khandro, many a stenographer is regarded as a secretary. Why are you harping on about that? It's irrelevant.

[pixie374]

Really difficult, as it's a unique situation and so long ago. Asking her for information, which may be useful- maybe.
The question is, what is the benefit of charging her? Is she at risk of doing it again? Has she physically murdered 11,000 people, or was she in a position where she could only do as she was ordered?
Justice... really means "fairness". I would leave her alone, as the circumstances, hopefully, won't be repeated anyway.

[Khandro]

sec·re·tar·y (sĕk′rĭ-tĕr′ē)
n. pl. sec·re·tar·ies
1. A person employed to handle correspondence, keep files, and do clerical work for another person or an organization.
2. An officer who keeps records, takes minutes of the meetings, and answers correspondence, as for a company.
3. An official who presides over an administrative department of state.

................

typ·ist (tī′pĭst)
n.
One who operates a typewriter.

[dannyk13]

Khandro- a person who doggedly pursues an irrelevancy.

[roadman]

never too late to pay for a crime you never paid for they are lucky the trial is so late in their life not much time left lucky for them they could have been caught many years ago ay and then spent so much more time in prison no sympathy for Nazis

[barry1010]

It is not irrelevant. A secretary can have enormous power within a government or organisation, such as Secretary of State or company secretary. A typist has no authority or power.

[Peter Pedant]

// Khandro, many a stenographer is regarded as a secretary. Why are you harping on about that? It's irrelevant.//

nope - relevant - fr'instance
court stenographer writes down the oral evidence even tho there is a recording device - but is clearly NOT a secretary to anyone

secretary - as khandro know as a man of the world - is much more than that.

obvious to anyone who speaks English innit?

[andres]

This lady is old but I read somewhere that the next one to be tried will be even older. He is a 100 years old former prison guard!

[roadman]

thats the thing about the law it doesnt matter what age you are it applies to everyone think abut these nazies did they have sympathy for all the old people they killed? no they did not so why have sympathy now

[sanmac]

Yabbut, the case under discussion is in Germany; therefore, this rambling on about English word definitions is irrelevant innit?

[Peter Pedant]

// Khandro- a person who doggedly pursues an irrelevancy.//
yeah boolox innit
give em hell Khandy !
Danny one of the usual suspects....

I was musing as an intellect often does....
The German typist secretary bird who typed the last list of the now empty camp at Westerbork 1944 - Holland that is boys and girls

If she just typed these are on the train: 1) Antoine van Arden etc.... Astrella Aaland....
would she be complicit in the deportation and death of Anne Frank ( who yes boys and girls was on the last train oudda Westerbork)

and you know I think the answer is - - of course not

[pixie374]

Ah, leave her alone. To whose advantage is it, to punish her now? To prevent her doing it again? Revenge? Can't see the benefit now.

[Peter Pedant]

// English word definitions is irrelevant innit?.....//
yeah but no but....

IF - the wording is such that they are guilty in German Law - and innocent as a new born baby under the English law and interpretation

then we are allowed to say - she aint done much
arent we

which is kinda odd for a war crime
and should Make Us Think whether this is Justice delayed
or blood lust

[Ellipsis]

> Ah, leave her alone

Leaving her alone is not simply leaving her alone, it's rewarding her for having evaded prosecution for almost 80 years.

That'd be OK if she nicked some office stationery, but the charge is complicity in 11,000 murders ...

[naomi24]

Khandro, why are you harping on with this pointless claptrap? If she was a stenographer she was a shorthand typist handling correspondence.

[pixie374]

Hardly a "reward", ellipsis. What did she gain? Was it her choice? Did she physically kill these people, or hire murderers? Is she going to be in that situation again? ---is she a threat? More importantly.

[Khandro]

It isn't "pointless" at all, why can't see that ?

[pixie374]

What are you on about, khandro? Do you think there is an advantage or benefit anywhere... if she is now charged? What are you trying to teach her?

[naomi24]

Why is it relevant?

[andy-hughes]

pixie - // What are you on about, khandro? Do you think there is an advantage or benefit anywhere... if she is now charged? What are you trying to teach her? //

As I have pointed out previously, if you start with a statute of limitations based simply on age, which crimes do you apply it to, and at what age does it kick in?

Rather than having to start pondering the moralities of answering those questions, is it not better to apply to law fairly and without favour?

That means, if someone is brought to court for a crime, and tried by due process, their age does not come into it, and that way, everyone is treated in the same way - which is fairly.

And that is how good laws operate.