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14 Nov.
45
Since the
first condition, impossibility of finding the defendant, is immediately
eliminated, it must be examined whether the second condition can be
applied, that is, whether it is necessary, in the interests of justice,
to try Krupp.
The
Defense is of the opinion that justice does not demand a trial against
Krupp in absentia, that this would even be contrary to justice. I want
to quote the following reasons: The decision on this question must come
from the concept of justice in the sense of Article 12 of the Charter.
We must take into account here that the 12th Article is purely a
regulation concerning procedure. The question arises, however, whether
the Trial against Krupp in his absence would be a just procedure. In my
opinion, a just procedure is only then given if it is, as a whole or in
its particular regulations, fashioned in such a way that an equitable
judgment is guaranteed. That is a judgment whereby the convicted
defendant will be punished accordingly and the innocent exonerated from
guilt and punishment.
Is
it possible that a just judgment can be guaranteed if a defendant is
tried in absentia, who through no fault of his own, cannot appear and
defend himself, who cannot inform his defense counsel, and who does not
even know that he is accused and for what reason? To ask this question
is to deny it. Even the regulations of the Charter concerning the rights
of the defendant in the preliminary procedure and in the main Trial,
oblige us to answer this question with "no".
The
following regulations are applicable here:
According
to Article 16 (a), the accused shall receive a copy of the Indictment
before the Trial.
According
to Article 16 (b), the defendant in the preliminary procedure and in the
main Trial, has the right to declare his own position in the face of
each accusation.
According
to Article 16 (c), a preliminary interrogation of the defendant should
take place.
According
to Article 16 (d), the defendant shall decide whether he wishes to
defend himself or to have somebody else defend him.
According
to Article 16 (c), the defendant has the right to submit evidence
himself and to cross-examine each witness. The Defendant Krupp could not
make use of any of these rights.
According
to Article 24 the same also applies to the special rights, which have
been accorded the defendants for the main Trial: The defendant should
declare his position in the main Trial, that is, whether he pleads
guilty or not.
In
my opinion, this is a declaration which is extremely significant for the
course of the Trial and of the decision, and the defendant can only do
this in persona. I do not know whether it is admissible
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