Vilis HāznersJudicial review and denial of motion to appeal

A10 305 336

they observed at the police station (Tr. p. 81-881, 2512, 510-5153). One of the witnesses testified that on another occasion in July 1941, he saw the respondent and other Latvians, some in uniform, force a number of Jews Into a synagogue, which they then set on fire (Tr. p. 50-604). The Service also introduced evidence that during August and September 1941, Jews in Riga were forced into a ghetto (Tr. p. 3355, 412-4146). Allegedly, Latvian guards enforced the degradations imposed upon those in the ghetto including forced labor details, and that upon returning to the ghetto from such details the guards beat those who carried food (Tr. p. 341-3427, 421-4228). Some witnesses testified that the respondent was often in command of the guards at the ghetto gate and on three separate occasions in 1941 he was seen selecting Jews for removal from the ghetto who were never seen or heard from again (Tr. p. 702-7269).

The respondent's rebuttal was that he was just a military officer and was part of the Latvian Self Defense unit. He claims that he was not in Riga when the events which took place at the Riga police station occurred. He also claims that he was at the Riga police station only once in his life, eight or nine years before 1941. He also claims that his duties never included participating in any persecution of the Jews in Latvia and that his appearance did not match that of the description given by the witnesses of the person they allegedly thought was the respondent. The respondent produced many witnesses who testified as to his everyday duties with the Latvian Self Defense Unit. These witnesses testified that he had nothing to do with such persecutions. They described his duties for the Latvian Self Defense Unit as merely administrative. He also introduced witnesses who described his appearance during July 1941. These witnesses said that the respondent had a very short haircut as a result of his being taken prisoner by the Russians a few days before the Germans arrived in Latvia. Another witness supported the respondent's assertion that he was not in Riga during the first week of July 1941 and another witness, who was an investigator for the United States government and who specialized in the Latvian region, testified that the respondent's organisation was not involved In any of the atrocities committed upon the Jews of Latvia.

THE TESTIMONY OF THE SERVICE'S WITNESSES

Ber Mendelkorn was one of the witnesses presented. He stated that he was born in Riga in 1924 and was 17 years old in July 1941 when the Germans occupied Riga. He testified that during the first days of July 1941 he was staying with a friend in

5