France Barbie's Mockery of Justice

In a stunning move, the "Butcher of Lyons" bows out of his trial

By any measure, it was an extraordinary moment. Accused War Criminal Klaus Barbie, known as the "Butcher of Lyons," was calmly answering as presiding Judge Andre Cerdini probed his career with the Nazi SS, his work for U.S. Army Intelligence after the war, his flight to South America in 1951 and, finally, his 1983 expulsion from Bolivia to stand trial in France. Unexpectedly, Barbie asked Cerdini for permission to read a statement. "I am being held here illegally," said the defendant without emotion, referring to his oft-repeated contention that he was unlawfully expelled from Bolivia. "I am the victim of a...

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