German court OKs release of ex-leftist terrorist

Legal World

A former top member of the leftist Red Army Faction terrorist group can be released from prison in January after having served the minimum 26 years of a life sentence for multiple murders, a German court ruled Monday.

The Red Army Faction, which emerged from German student protests against the Vietnam War, killed 34 people before disbanding in 1998. It subscribed to Marxist-Leninist ideology and sought to overthrow the capitalist West German government and fight perceived U.S. imperialism.

The Stuttgart state court ruled that it found no grounds for Christian Klar, 56, to remain behind bars any longer, spokeswoman Josefine Koeblitz said. After his Jan. 3 release he will remain on probation for five years, the court ruled.

The judges found "no evidence of a continued threat," Koeblitz said.

The court noted that Klar had shown himself "completely changed," urging against armed struggle.

Klar was convicted of involvement in nine murders, including those of federal prosecutor Siegfried Buback, industrialist Hanns-Martin Schreyer and Dresdner Bank chief Juergen Ponto — all in 1977, when the movement was at its peak.

He was sentenced to six concurrent life sentences, as well as individual 15-year, 14-year and 12-year sentences.

Before the ruling, Buback's son Michael called on Klar to divulge all the details of the killing, including who fired the fatal shots.

Related listings

  • Int'l court prosecutor seeks Darfur rebels' arrest

    Int'l court prosecutor seeks Darfur rebels' arrest

    Legal World 11/20/2008

    After accusing Sudan's president of genocide, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court sought arrest warrants Thursday for three anti-government rebel leaders accused of a deadly attack on African Union peacekeepers in northern Darfur...

  • Former Taiwanese president led to court in cuffs

    Former Taiwanese president led to court in cuffs

    Legal World 11/11/2008

    Taiwan television stations have broadcast pictures of former President Chen Shui-bian being led from a prosecutor's office in handcuffs.The stations report that Chen is being taken to Taipei district court, where prosecutors are seeking an arrest ord...

  • Japan ex-defense official convicted in bribery

    Japan ex-defense official convicted in bribery

    Legal World 11/06/2008

    A Japanese court sentenced a former senior defense official to 2 1/2 years in prison Wednesday for accepting bribes in exchange for his recommendation in government arms contracts, a court official said.Former Vice-Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya wa...

Is Now the Time to Really Call a Special Education Lawyer?

IDEA, FAPE, CHILD FIND and IEPs: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees all children with disabilities to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). FAPE starts with a school’s responsibility to identify that a child has a disability (Child Find) and create an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to suit the needs of the child.

Forte Law Group is one of only a very few law firms within the state of Connecticut that is dedicated to exclusively representing families and children with special needs.

Parents need to be persistent, dedicated and above all else aware of the many services and accommodations that their child is entitled to under the law. As early as this point within your child’s special education, many parents will often find themselves in the situation asking, “is now the time to really call a special education lawyer?” Here are a few things to consider when asking yourself that question.

Business News

St Peters, MO Professional License Attorney Attorney John Lynch has been the go-to choice for many professionals facing administrative sanction. >> read