Berlin court to mull petition of Demjanjuk

BERLIN (AP) — A Berlin court will weigh a petition from a German lawyer of suspected Nazi death camp guard John Demjanjuk seeking to block his planned deportation from the United States.

Berlin administrative court spokesman Stefan Groscurth said it will inform Germany’s Justice Ministry of the challenge on Monday. The ministry would represent the German government if the court takes up the case.

Groscurth declined to comment further, but a copy of the petition provided by Demjanjuk’s lawyer argues the 89-year-old Ohio resident is too ill to be transferred to Germany to face trial in Munich on suspicion of Nazi-era crimes.

Lawyer Ulrich Busch wants the German government to withdraw its willingness to accept Demjanjuk.

The Justice Ministry refused to comment.