Argentina/France

Blond Angel of Death faces trial over French nuns' murder

Article published on the 2009-12-11 Latest update 2009-12-11 16:19 TU

Alfredo Astiz
DR

A former Argentine Navy captain, Alfredo Astiz, went on trial in Argentina on Friday for the kidnap and murder of two French nuns during the country's 1976-1983 military dictatorship.

Astiz, who was known as the "Blond Angel of Death", is charged along with 18 other soldiers of killing the women at the notorious Naval Mechanics School, which served as a prison and torture centre under military rule.

In 1990 a French court sentenced him in his absence to life imprisonment for the murders, as did an Italian court in 2007.

The nuns, Alice Domon and Léonie Duquet, were kidnapped in December 1977.

Astiz has also been accused of involvement in the disappearance of a Swedish adolescent and dozens of Argentine left-wingers.