22 Oct 2008

Germany ordered to pay compo to Italian war victims

8:45 am on 22 October 2008

The top court in Italy has ruled that Germany must pay compensation to the Italian families of nine people killed in a 1944 massacre by the German army.

Judicial sources said on Tuesday the court rejected Germany's argument that international law gave it immunity from prosecution by private citizens.

The court ruled Germany should pay around 1 million euros ($US1.32 million) in damages to the families for a World War II massacre in Civitella, Tuscany, in which 203 people were killed.

ANSA news agency quoted Augusto Dossena, the lawyer representing Germany in the case, as saying Germany would not pay any compensation.