Germany - A German judge on Thursday canceled a planned day of hearings in the trial of John Demjanjuk, accused of helping to kill 27,900 Jews in the Holocaust, because the 89-year-old said he was ill.

Demjanjuk had complained of pains in his chest, said he felt dizzy and could not stand up, said presiding judge Ralph Alt.

Although an electrocardiogram showed no abnormalities, a doctor recommended no risks were taken, Alt said, adding that he agreed with the doctor.

The case, likely to be Germany's last major Nazi-era war crimes trial, is due to continue on January 19.

Prosecutors have charged Demjanjuk, who fought in the Red Army before being captured by the Nazis, of helping to push Jews into gas chambers at Sobibor death camp in Nazi-occupied Poland in 1943.

He emigrated to the United States in 1951 and became an auto worker.

Demjanjuk denies any role in the Holocaust and his family argues he is too frail to stand trial.

He was extradited from the United States in May and if found guilty faces a life sentence.

(Reporting by Peter Maushagen; Writing by Madeline Chambers; Editing by Louise Ireland)

Germany