Germany puts 96-year-old in wheelchair trial, accused of war crimes

The 96-year-old defendant is charged with over 11,000 cases of co-operation in the murder.

Irmgard Furchner is accused of crimes committed under the leadership of SS Commander Stutthof Camp in Nazi Germany during World War II.

Prosecutors claim that Furchner “helped and supported the camp's responsibilities in the continued murder of prisoners”.

The 96-year-old served as stenographer and printer at the camp commander's office in June 1943 and April {45.

Prosecutors said 65 thousand prisoners were killed during World War II in the camp, whose location today is near the Polish city of Gdansk.

Furchner was brought to the courtroom in Itzehoe on Tuesday, near Hamburg, in a wheelchair to meet with the indictment.

He did not respond to the charges brought against him, while the trial is scheduled to continue on October 26th.

Furchner is being tried in a minor court in northern Germany, as he was under the age of 21 at the time he allegedly collaborated in the crime.

Germany continues with the search for former Nazi criminals still alive.