88 Years Old WW2 Murderer: Still Worth Prosecuting?

[Kerosene]

65 years later, does he still deserve to be brought to justice? What possible evidence can remain?
Is it in the public interest to prosecute this geriatric?

Or is this just a PR exercise gone mad?

http://news.bbc.co.uk...ld/europe/8402574.stm

[ummmm]

"I knew that if I didn't carry out my orders I would be breaking my oath and would be shot myself," Mr Boere said.

Doesn't that statement say it all? I think we'd all do the same in his position. So no, I do not think he should be brought to justice 65 years later.

[lindapinda]

He may be 88 now,but he wasnt when he shot those people in cold blood. All sorts of evidence is still available,not least the fact that he admitted himself that he killed those people in revenge for someone else's act. He deliberately escaped to avoid further imprisonment for his admitted crimes. If i had done what he did..no doubt under duress at the time..i could not have lived with my guilt,never mind escape from a real punishment....and then..years later plead old age when discovered !..

[socket2008]

The fact that he is 88 is irrelevent. What if Ian Huntley had done a runner and then 50 years later he was caught. Anyone think he shouldn't go inside? Fast forwarding many years doesn't change history or the crime.

[sara3]

you might feel differently if he'd murdered your family.

[Sqad]

That was then, this is now......conditions are entirely different.

If I had to choose between shooting 3 civilians and being shot myself, then the civilians "get it". What would you do?

Trial? great idea, the lawyers and barristers will make a packet.

[anotheoldgit]

Good point Sqad, I look forward to the answers from those who have already condemned him.

[lynbrown]

It also has to show any present day murderers that they have to pay the price, no matter how long it takes.

[ummmm]

Look Sqad...we agreed again :-)

[Sqad]

lyn......so sentencing this guy, in you opinion, will be a deterrent to our modern murderers do you?

[jackthehat]

<snip>He admitted the killings to the Dutch authorities when he was in captivity after World War II, but managed to escape from his POW camp and returned to Germany, where he has since lived.

In 1949, a tribunal in Amsterdam sentenced him to death in absentia - later commuted to life in prison. A Dutch extradition request was turned down by the West German government in the early 1980s. <snip>

Had he not run away, he would doubtless have served his sentence and be a free man now............
In cases such as this, the deterrent aspect is negigible; that doesn't mean that he shouldn't pay for his admitted crimes.

[LoftyLottie]

Agree with Squad. This is 65 years on. Life has changed. The whole situation is different and who are we to judge in the light of what was happening then. Of course we should not be prosecuting now.

[youngmafbog]

I believe the 'I was only doing what I was told' was used at Nuremburg. Was not accepted there either.

All those saying it should be counted, what about the Gangs roaming someon of the streets today. There is massive peer pressure and I am sure times when if you dont do it you will be shot. Should Gang members therefore be able to use this excuse and get off ?

[Sqad]

Zeuhl.....I am a liitle confused........it is almost certainly me.

///he should face justice. That is the 'right thing to do' ///

////Personally, I think if this guy is guilty, locking him up aged 88 benefits no one.///

So what is the point of an expensive trial, as if he is found guilty, you feel that locking him up would benefit nobody. So then I assume that you would advocate the he should be executed.

Have I got it right?

[sara3]

it's not a deterrent but he should be punished for his crimes.

[Quinlad]

Interesting take on it, Zeuhl.

If a man shot a bunch of schoolchildren dead but had an accident while escaping and lost the use of his arms and legs, would you argue there's no point sending him to prison?

[Davethedog]

So using this logic - How long after a crime is commited do we say don't bother. Ronnie Biggs should never have gone (back) to prison? What about that girl who was raped, cut up and buried in Margate that took over 20 years to catch that bloke - ancient history no don't bother? Rachel Nickels killer 18 years later oh alright then.

Those people had relatives thier children may still be alive are you advocating no justice for them

Catch yourself's on as resident of Ireland are won't to say.