Page "Herschel Grynszpan" Paragraph 26

Franckel and Moro-Giafferi, however, took the view that if Grynszpan was allowed to claim that he had shot vom Rath with such a motive, this would result in his certain conviction and possibly take him to the guillotine ( despite his being a minor ), since French law took a severe view of political assassination.

If, on the other hand, the crime could be shown to have had a non-political motive, this might lead to an acquittal, or at least to a lesser sentence, since French law traditionally took a lenient view of the crime passionel ( crime of passion ).

His legal strategy was thus to " depoliticize " Grynszpan's actions.