Sándor Képíró
Encyclopedia
Sándor Képíró was a former gendarmerie
captain during World War II accused of war crimes committed by Hungarian
forces, and found not guilty.
In September of 2006, Efraim Zuroff
of the Wiesenthal Center made public copies of a 1944 court verdict finding Képíró and 14 other Hungarian Army and police officers of taking part in 1942 raid in Novi Sad.
In 1948, the government of Hungary retried him in absentia and sentenced him to 14 years. This verdict was based upon the testimony of János Nagy, a former Hungarian soldier of Képíró's platoon. However, the testimony was given after the communist secret service
tortured Nagy. Képíró claimed that he had never ever heard of him. Képíró returned to Budapest
in 1996 without being identified until that point.
Responding to the Wiesenthal Center accusations, Képíró said he had been a junior police officer at the time who had been involved in the round up of civilians, but denied taking an active part in the executions, which were carried out by soldiers. Képíró also said he refused orders to take part in anything illegal. "I was the only one who asked for a written command. At the time of the massacre I was reluctant. Prove that I was a war criminal." The 1944 verdict provided by the Wiesenthal Center, however, states that despite Képíró's request for written orders, he participated in the massacre even though none were given.
Hungarian military prosecutors state that the previous verdicts are no longer valid and a new investigation would have to be reopened, which might take years. On 14 September 2009, he was taken in for questioning by Hungarian police. However, because of the lack of evidence, the charges against him were later dropped.
Képíró has accused Efraim Zuroff of libel and initiated criminal proceedings in a Budapest court. The case opened in October 2010. If convicted, Zuroff could have faced up to two years in prison. However, the case was dismissed on 17 December 2010 based on the 1944 verdict as well as due to Képíró's failure to appear in court.
On 14 February 2011 Hungarian prosecutors charged Képíró. On 18 July 2011, he was found not guilty by a Budapest court.
After the verdict László Karsai, the leading Hungarian Holocaust historian, son of a Holocaust survivor, said: "Honestly, I wish Zuroff stopped doing what he's doing. I mean: with this kind of methods he uses, with so little evidence, he tries to drag people through the mire. This can't be done to anyone, can't be done even to a former gendarmerie officer either.” Professor Karsai accused Zuroff of being a hysterical, narcissistic Nazi-hunter, working only to earn a good living. Karsai claimed that the Wiesenthal Center made such a publicity to the case in order to justify its own existence before the sponsors.
Sándor Képíró died in hospital in Budapest at the age of 97. His death was reported by his family and lawyer, who said he believed the trial in summer had contributed to his client's poor health.
Gendarmerie
A gendarmerie or gendarmery is a military force charged with police duties among civilian populations. Members of such a force are typically called "gendarmes". The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary describes a gendarme as "a soldier who is employed on police duties" and a "gendarmery, -erie" as...
captain during World War II accused of war crimes committed by Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
forces, and found not guilty.
In September of 2006, Efraim Zuroff
Efraim Zuroff
Efraim Zuroff is an Israeli historian of American origin, who has played a role in bringing Nazis indicted for war crimes to trial...
of the Wiesenthal Center made public copies of a 1944 court verdict finding Képíró and 14 other Hungarian Army and police officers of taking part in 1942 raid in Novi Sad.
In 1948, the government of Hungary retried him in absentia and sentenced him to 14 years. This verdict was based upon the testimony of János Nagy, a former Hungarian soldier of Képíró's platoon. However, the testimony was given after the communist secret service
State Protection Authority
The State Protection Authority was the secret police force of Hungary from 1945 until 1956. It was conceived of as an external appendage of the Soviet Union's secret police forces, but attained an indigenous reputation for brutality during a series of purges beginning in 1948, intensifying in 1949...
tortured Nagy. Képíró claimed that he had never ever heard of him. Képíró returned to Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
in 1996 without being identified until that point.
Responding to the Wiesenthal Center accusations, Képíró said he had been a junior police officer at the time who had been involved in the round up of civilians, but denied taking an active part in the executions, which were carried out by soldiers. Képíró also said he refused orders to take part in anything illegal. "I was the only one who asked for a written command. At the time of the massacre I was reluctant. Prove that I was a war criminal." The 1944 verdict provided by the Wiesenthal Center, however, states that despite Képíró's request for written orders, he participated in the massacre even though none were given.
Hungarian military prosecutors state that the previous verdicts are no longer valid and a new investigation would have to be reopened, which might take years. On 14 September 2009, he was taken in for questioning by Hungarian police. However, because of the lack of evidence, the charges against him were later dropped.
Képíró has accused Efraim Zuroff of libel and initiated criminal proceedings in a Budapest court. The case opened in October 2010. If convicted, Zuroff could have faced up to two years in prison. However, the case was dismissed on 17 December 2010 based on the 1944 verdict as well as due to Képíró's failure to appear in court.
On 14 February 2011 Hungarian prosecutors charged Képíró. On 18 July 2011, he was found not guilty by a Budapest court.
After the verdict László Karsai, the leading Hungarian Holocaust historian, son of a Holocaust survivor, said: "Honestly, I wish Zuroff stopped doing what he's doing. I mean: with this kind of methods he uses, with so little evidence, he tries to drag people through the mire. This can't be done to anyone, can't be done even to a former gendarmerie officer either.” Professor Karsai accused Zuroff of being a hysterical, narcissistic Nazi-hunter, working only to earn a good living. Karsai claimed that the Wiesenthal Center made such a publicity to the case in order to justify its own existence before the sponsors.
Sándor Képíró died in hospital in Budapest at the age of 97. His death was reported by his family and lawyer, who said he believed the trial in summer had contributed to his client's poor health.