Berlin, Monday
THE manslaughter trial of former East German communist leader Erich
Honecker was halted today after he suffered an irregular heartbeat and
high blood pressure and said he felt sick.
The health of Honecker and his aging co-defendants has already played
a leading role in the most sensational trial in Germany since the
Nuremburg war crimes tribunal.
The ousted communist rulers are together blamed for the deaths of
people killed trying to flee their former communist homeland.
Thursday's opening session of the trial and today's proceedings were
both cut short because of health problems.
After 80-year-old Honecker complained that he felt ill Berlin Judge
Hansgeorg Braeutigam asked him: ''Herr Honecker, can you not go on?''
''No, no more now,'' Honecker replied.
He was examined by doctors during a 10-minute recess and found to be
suffering from high blood pressure and an irregular heartbeat.
The trial continued for about another 20 minutes before the Judge
adjourned it until Thursday. Honecker, among other health problems, has
incurable liver cancer.
The court also granted a defence request that Erich Mielke, the hated
former chief of the communist secret police, be tried separately from
Honecker and the others.
Mielke, who is already on trial for killing two policemen in Berlin in
the 1930s, had applied to have the accusations of his involvement with
the border deaths dealt with away from Honecker's trial.
The court granted his request because of evidence indicating the
dazed-looking Mielke, 84, is not up to dealing with two criminal
proceedings at once.
Last week former East German Prime Minister Willi Stoph was dropped
from the border death trial after he missed Thursday's opening day
because of what his lawyers said were heart problems.
Stoph, 78, is to be tried separately.
Honecker, who ruled East Germany with an iron fist for 18 years until
he was toppled in 1989, faces 13 charges of manslaughter over his
shoot-to-kill orders given to Berlin Wall guards.--AP.
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