The Higher Regional Court in Celle, Germany, on Wednesday ruled [press release, in German] that Oskar Groening, a former Auschwitz guard known as the “bookkeeper of Auschwitz,” is not too elderly to serve a four-year prison sentence.

The now 96-year-old former Nazi SS guard was convicted and sentenced [JURIST report] as an accessory to the murder of more than 300,000 people in Auschwitz.

Groening’s lawyer had argued that the sentence violated his constitutional rights and cited old age as a reason not to serve the sentence. However, a court doctor concluded that Groening would be able to serve out his sentence on the condition that he has access to the appropriate medical care during his term in prison. Based on this expert testimony, the court found that Groening was fit to serve out his term, stating [DW report] that “jailing Groening would not violate his rights since the appropriate precautionary measures could be taken to meet any special requirements.”