Comic's grandad faced war crimes trial
Serafinowicz family secret
Peter Serafinowicz’s grandfather was the first man in Britain to face a trial for Nazi war crimes, it has been revealed.Szymon Serafinowicz appeared at the Old Bailey in 1997 accused of killing three Jews while he was a police chief in German-occupied Belarus.
However, the charges were never put before a jury as it was ruled his dementia meant he was not fit to stand trial. He died later that year, aged 85
The Mail on Sunday uncovered the family link to the 36-year-old comedian, who has just landed his own BBC Two show.
His lawyers, Schillings, initially invoked the Human Rights Act in a bid to stop publication of the news today, but quickly backed down.
Szymon Serafinowicz was arrested at his home in Banstead, Surrey, 12 years ago over his alleged role in the war crimes in the town of Mir. Witnesses said he was involved when a group of Jewish families were frogmarched from their homes and executed.
A committal hearing in Britain heard there was a case to answer under the 1991 War Crimes Act, although he denied all charges.
Schillings said yesterday: ‘Our client’s grandfather died before he was able to demonstrate that there was no truth in the allegations.’
Published: 21 Oct 2007
