[JURIST] A panel of Italian judges on Wednesday convicted 10 former Nazi SS soldiers in absentia for their roles in the 1944 massacre of over 500 Tuscan villagers [Wikipedia entry]. The 10 men all received life sentences after the three-judge panel deliberated for seven hours. Italian authorities began their investigation into the atrocity a few years ago when they discovered Allied reports of the killings, supposedly meant to weed out partisans but resulting in the rounding up of random villagers who were later shot to death or killed in groups with grenades. A lawyer for two of the defendants expressed disappointment with the verdict and an appeal is expected. AP has more. From Germany, Deutsche Welle provides additional coverage.