THALIDOMIDE TRIAL

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31320, 16 March 1967, Page 17

THALIDOMIDE TRIAL

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) AACHEN (W. Germany), Mar. 15. The top executives of a West German drug firm face up to 10 years’ hard labour if they are convicted on charges that the drug thalidomide caused deformity in thousands of children. They are the nine directors and technicians of Chemie Gruenenthal, of Stolberg, near Aachen. The Aachen Prosecutor has formally laid charges against them of causing bodily harm deliberately and through negligence, negligent killing and violating German drug laws. The last offence is punishable by up to 10 years’ hard labour in especially serious cases, a prosecution spokesman said last night The Prosecutor alleged that the drug, the directors’ own discovery, caused deformity to 5000 West German babies after it was taken by their mothers while pregnant. The nine include the 70-

year-old executive director, Mr Herman Wirtz. Their trial is expected to begin next year. The prosecution spokesman said the delay was because the indictment, a 952-page document prepared over five years, must first be studied by the accused. There was no question of

any of them being taken into custody before the trial, expected to last 12 months, he said.

The Prosecutor’s office spokesman said the directors had denied any culpable behaviour and claimed they took all medical precautions. A statement by Chemie Gruenenthal itself said no comment could be made on the indictment until it reached the firm through to the Aachen court.

But it added: “It should be acknowledged that the Public Prosecutor’s office emphasised that nobody should be considered guilty until a legally-based decision is made.”