Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Refugee, 85, sent for Britain's first war crimes trial

Ros Wynne-Jones
Monday 15 April 1996 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Britain's first war crimes case is to go ahead after an 85-year-old refugee was committed for trial yesterday accused of murdering three Jews in the Second World War.

Szymon Serafinowicz is charged under the 1991 War Crimes Act with the murder of three unnamed Jews in Byelorussia, now Belarus, during Nazi occupation of the former Soviet republic.

After a two-month committal hearing, Dorking magistrates ruled there was sufficient evidence to commit Mr Serafinowicz for trial at the Old Bailey. The court had heard testimony from 16 witnesses, some of whom flew in from the United States, South Africa, Siberia and Israel. Details of the proceedings cannot be reported for legal reasons.

At yesterday's hearing one of the original charges was dropped and Peter Badge, the chief metropolitan magistrate, said there was a case to answer on a new charge, that Mr Serafinowicz had murdered an unnamed Jew at Dolmatowsz- czyzna, in Byelorussia.

Mr Serafinowicz, a retired carpenter, looked blank as the charges were read out and appeared not to register the presence of his sons Kazimierz, 49, and Szymon, 52, in court.

He settled in Britain after the war with his Polish-born wife, who died some years ago. In July 1995 he was arrested at his home in Banstead, Surrey, and charged, after a two-year inquiry by Scotland Yard's war crimes unit. The 1991 Act meant the Crown Prosecution Service could bring charges even though the alleged offences happened abroad.

Nicholas Bowers, for the defence, said his client was "delighted" one of the charges had been dropped. "He is looking forward to establishing his innocence before a jury," he said.

The first charge against Mr Serafinowicz alleges he murdered an unknown Jew in Mir, Byelorussia, in November 1941; the second that he murdered an unknown Jew at Krymiczne, Byelorussia, between December 1941 and March 1942; and the third that he murdered an unknown Jew at Dolmatowszczyzna between November 1941 and March 1942.

Mr Serafinowicz was bailed to appear at the Old Bailey next month for a pre-trial hearing.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in