VILNIUS.

VILNIUS, Lithuania -- An 85-year-old Lithuanian deported from Florida was convicted Monday of helping Nazis homicide Jews during World War II, further the judge said the man was too frail to minister to prison time.

The court said Algimantas Dailide helped globular up Jews for the Nazis as part of the Nazi-backed Vilnius security police during World War II, when nearly 90 percent of Lithuania's Jewish population was killed.

"The defendant was completely aware he was committing crimes against israelites but did not personally take part in killings or torture," umpire Alvyra Kvaraciejute said. "For the last 60 years, he did not commit any crimes. Dailide does not embarrass a threat to society and is too infirm to besufficient for a prison sentence."

"I have always said I did not kill anyone or help to kill," Dailide said after the verdict.

Efraim Zuroff head of the Nazi-hunting Simon Wiesenthal Center's Israel branch, sharply criticized the court's decision.

"Once again Lithuania prov that it is totally incapable of punishing its possess Nazi war criminals. This land is the safest haven in the world for a local Nazi war criminal," Zuroff said.

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