The suspension marks the fifth time that the trial has been postponed this year.

Lileikis, who during the war headed the Vilnius branch of the Lithuanian security police, is suspected of having handed scores of Jews over to Nazi death squads.

Meanwhile, his lawyer has hinted that the trial may never resume.

"One must reconcile oneself to the thought that nobody will manage to investigate" the crimes unless Lileikis recovers, Algirdas Matuiza told reporters in Vilnius.

The court is now expected to assign another group of medical experts to gather data about the defendant's health — and this is unlikely to happen until next year, according to Matuiza.