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MEMORANDUM OF THE BRITISH PROSECUTION
ON THE MOTION ON BEHALF OF DEFENDANT
GUSTAV KRUPP VON BOHLEN
British War Crimes Executive (E.S.)
12 November 1945
To: The International Military Tribunal.
The British Chief Prosecutor has had the opportunity of considering the
application of the Defending Counsel to the accused GUSTAV KRUPP VON
BOHLEN UND HALBACH:
1) that the proceedings against this
accused be deferred until he is again fit for trial;
2) at any rate, that the accused be not tried in his absence.
The British Chief Prosecutor opposes this application for the following
reasons:
i) The medical position is that as far as
can be foreseen the said defendant will never again be fit for trial,
and therefore if he is not tried in his absence, he will not be tried
at all.
ii) Although in an ordinary case it is undesirable that a defendant
should be tried when he is unable to comprehend the charges made
against him, or to give instruction for his defence, there are special
considerations which apply to this case and make it essential for the
Defendant Gustav Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach to be tried in his
absence.
iii) As this is a case of conspiracy, the British Prosecutor submits
that all the evidence directly concerned with the actions and speeches
of the said defendant and the operations of Fried. Krupp A.G. would be
evidence against the remaining defendants, if the Prosecution
establishes a prima facie case: a) that the conspiracy existed;
b) that the said defendant was a party to the conspiracy.
Such prima facie case is clearly indicated in the Indictment
lodged with the Tribunal and the evidence against the present
defendant set out in the American Answer to this Application.
iv) If this submission of the British Chief Prosecutor is correct and
this evidence can and will be given in Court, then it is at least
arguable that it is preferable for the said defendant to be
represented so that his lawyer can deal with such evidence to the
best of his ability.
v) It is a matter of common knowledge of which the Court may take
cognisance that the business of Fried. Krupp A.G. is
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