In Italy, Ex-Nazi Officer Leaves House Arrest
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ROME — An Italian military court has allowed a former Nazi officer convicted for his role in a 1944 massacre to leave house arrest to work — a ruling that sparked outrage among the families of those murdered, politicians and Jewish groups.
Since last month, 93-year-old Erich Priebke has been allowed to leave the Rome apartment where he is serving a life sentence to work at his lawyer’s office, according to the attorney, Paolo Giachini.
Mr. Priebke has been in prison or house arrest since he was extradited to Italy in 1994 from Argentina. He was convicted of war crimes three years later for his role in the massacre of 335 civilians at the Ardeatine Caves on the outskirts of Rome.
Mr. Priebke has admitted shooting two people and helping round up the victims but has always insisted he was just following orders and should not be held responsible.
He was working as a translator because of his knowledge of German, Italian, Spanish, and English, Mr. Giachini told the Associated Press.
He said his client only came to the law firm “when necessary” and declined to say if Mr. Priebke was there yesterday.
