German Nazi war crimes suspect goes on trial

A 90-year-old German man has gone on trial in Munich accused of committing crimes against humanity during the Nazi regime in Italy. Josef Scheungraber was allegedly a company commander in the Tuscan village of Falzano when German troops destroyed all houses after imprisoning eleven villagers in a house before blowing it up.

Outside the courtroom, dozens of demonstrators called for Scheungraber to be jailed for the rest of his life. The killings were said to have been carried out in retaliation for an attack in which two German soldiers died. As the incident took place more than sixty years ago, prosecutors have had great difficulty collating evidence. Scheungraber, who denies the charges, has already been sentenced by a military court to life in prison in absentia.

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