
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, September 17, 1993                   TAG: 9309170059
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: BERLIN                                LENGTH: Short

E. GERMAN BOSSES GUILTY IN WALL KILLINGS

A judge convicted three elderly former Communist leaders Thursday in the shooting deaths of East Germans trying to scale the Berlin Wall.

It was the first time that top figures in the former regime were found guilty in deaths at the Berlin Wall. At least eight border guards already have been convicted.

Communist supporters booed as guilty verdicts were read against former Defense Minister Heinz Kessler, 73; his deputy, Fritz Streletz, 66; and 73-year-old Hans Albrecht, a member of East Germany's National Defense Council.

Kessler and Streletz, also members of the council, were convicted of incitement to commit manslaughter and sentenced to 7 1/2 years and 5 1/2 years in prison respectively. Both have served 28 months behind bars.

Albrecht was found guilty of aiding and abetting manslaughter and was sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison. He has been free because of poor health. - Associated Press

by CNB