The Hungarian Court of Appeals today began hearing the appeals filed by nine persons convicted on July 26 of having instigated and participated in a pogrom at Kunmadaras last May during which three Jews were killed and more than 20 injured.
The sentences being appealed range from death, meted out to three of those convicted, to six years imprisonment. Defense counsel stressed the ignorance of the defendants and the fact that consequently they believed rumors that Jews had kidnapped a child for purposes of ritual murder.
Deputy Solicitor-General Janos Borbely agreed that the anti-Semitic propaganda spread by the former regime and the activities of some sections of the clergy had laid the groundwork for the anti-Semitic incitement.
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