An Argentine former navy captain went on trial today accused of pushing drugged political prisoners out of planes in the "dirty war" of Argentina's military government.
Weak after a month on hunger strike, Mr Adolfo Scilingo had his eyes closed and was held up by two police officers as he was brought into a Madrid court at the start of Spain's first genocide trial.
Wrapped in a blanket, he slumped over his chair in the courtroom. Asked by chief Judge Fernando Garcia if he understood he was on trial, Mr Scilingo only answered weakly: "My head aches."
The judge ordered a suspension of the trial after just 15 minutes so Mr Scilingo could undergo a medical examination, but it resumed after two doctors testified he could continue.
After the resumption, Mr Scilingo covered his eyes and did not answer the judge.
Mr Scilingo went to Spain voluntarily in 1997 to testify about his involvement in the "death flights" in the 1970s and faces charges of torture, murder, terrorism and genocide.
The Madrid court has powers to try suspects for genocide committed anywhere, if there might have been Spanish victims.
Mr Scilingo (58) has been refusing solid food since December 12th, protesting that he is the only one to face charges from Argentina's "dirty war" in the 1970s.
Mr Antonio Segura, a lawyer for an Argentine human rights group, accused Mr Scilingo of faking illness.
Mr Scilingo, who voluntarily went to Spain in 1997 to testify before Judge Baltasar Garzon, previously told the high court judge that he participated in the notorious flights in the 1970s during military government repression against suspected leftist insurgents, although he later withdrew his testimony.
He confessed then to throwing 30 drugged, naked dissidents from planes into the Atlantic but has since recanted.
Defence lawyers said he was pressured to lie under oath to help build a case against other "dirty war" figures.