Ep 3. The Unclean
- December 11, 2018
In The Devil Next Door season 1 episode 3, titled "The Unclean," the focus is on a key witness in the trial of John Demjanjuk. The witness, a man named Alexander Vorobyev, provides crucial testimony regarding Demjanjuk's role as a guard at the Treblinka extermination camp during World War II.
Vorobyev's testimony is particularly important because he claims to have seen Demjanjuk participating in the murder of Jews at the camp. This testimony is a major part of the prosecution's case against Demjanjuk, who is on trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
As the episode progresses, viewers get a closer look at Vorobyev and his background. He is a Ukrainian refugee who lived in Israel for many years before moving to the United States. He is also a deeply religious man who believes that the Holocaust was a punishment from God for the sins of Jewish people.
The episode also delves into the controversial issue of eyewitness testimony. Some experts question the reliability of witness testimony, especially in cases where the events occurred many years ago. Additionally, the defense team for Demjanjuk argues that Vorobyev's testimony is not credible due to his personal biases and religious beliefs.
Despite these challenges, Vorobyev's testimony ultimately plays a crucial role in the trial. The prosecution calls a number of additional witnesses who support Vorobyev's account of events at Treblinka. And as the trial unfolds, it becomes increasingly clear that Demjanjuk was indeed a guard at the camp and participated in the killing of Jews.
Throughout the episode, viewers are left to ponder the difficult questions raised by this case. How can we determine the truth about events that occurred decades ago, in the midst of war and chaos? And what does it mean for justice when the key evidence comes from eyewitness testimony that may be flawed or biased?
Overall, "The Unclean" is a thought-provoking episode that explores the complexities of the Demjanjuk trial and the challenges of seeking justice for atrocities committed in the past.
