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The "Trial of Soghomon Tehlirian" was a sensationalized trial of the assassination of the former Grand Vizier Talat Pasha by the Soghomon Tehlirian. The event happened in the Charlottenburg District of Berlin, Germany in broad daylight and in the presence of many witnesses on March 15, 1921.

Defense

Tehlirian defended by three defence attorneys, including Dr. Kurt Niemeyer, professor of Law at Cologne University.

The defense attorneys made no attempt to deny the fact that Tehlirian had killed a man. They focused on the influence of the Armenian Genocide on Tehlirian's mental state. It took the jury slightly over an hour to render a verdict of "not guilty" on grounds of temporary insanity. Tehlirian was tried and acquitted of all charges by the German court.

The trial examined not only Tehlirian’s actions but also Tehlirian's conviction that Talat Pasha was the main author of the Armenian Genocide, based on the "Talat Pasha telegrams." The Memoirs of Naim Bey (Talat Pasha telegrams) were read by the defense lawyer to the jury, although not introduced as evidence in court (the defense lawyer canceled his motion) their help acquit Tehlirian.

Significance

The trial was an important influence on Polish lawyer Raphael Lemkin, who found it interesting that Tehlirian's defense was to kill a man but not an entire people.

Art

The Turkish film Blood on the Wall was a depiction of the Tehlirian's trial. It greatly differed and presents a fictional account. Near the end of the movie, Tehlirian is shown confessing, prior to moment the jury is sent to deliberate the case, before the court that he had killed an innocent man, that is, Talat. After he breaks down in tears, the film shows his mother, who is shown to have survived the Genocide, walking across the courtroom and comforting him; the jury, however, does find him not guilty.

The French film "Mayrig" (1992, dir. Henri Verneuil) is depicted Tehlirian (actor Denis Podalydès) and some events related to his trial .

Notes

1. "Trial of Soghomon Tehlirian—First Afternoon". Armeniapedia. Retrieved 2007-02-04. VON GORDON — In view of the position taken by the District Attorney and the effect it has had on the jurors, I would like to cancel my motion to have these telegrams read into the record. PRESIDING JUSTICE — I believe that takes care of this point.
2. Peter, Balakian (2004). The Burning Tigris: The Armenian Genocide and America's Response. New York: Perennial. pp. 344–345. Albeit on grounds of temporary insanity due to the traumatic experience he had gone through during the Genocide

References

• Soghomon Tʻēhlirean, 2006, "The Case of Soghomon Tehlirian", by Center for Armenian Remembrance ISBN 0977715310

External links

• Trial of Soghomon Tehlirian

• Armenian Genocide