Torture trial of Mangos: Father alleges lawyer misconduct in Karditsa
Giannis Mangos alleges attempted entrapment and lawyer misconduct during the trial of six police officers accused of torturing his son.
Mangos allegation: lawyer "misconduct" in trial of police officers in Karditsa
Giannis Mangos, father of Vasilis Mangos, has publicly levelled serious allegations of attempted court deception and deliberate disparagement of his family regarding events that unfolded in the trial currently underway in Karditsa. According to ERT, six police officers are seated in the dock accused of torturing his son.
Giannis Mangos states that on 26 May 2026 Vasilis's parents completed their lengthy testimony. During it, according to him, they were asked questions unrelated to the actual events, but aimed at "character assassination after death" of their son and family. He also alleges personal attacks, insults and "insidious" questions designed to discredit the parents' relationship with their son.
The disputed document
The central point of the allegation concerns a specific incident within the courtroom. According to Giannis Mangos, a defence lawyer for the accused presented a document claiming it was testimony given by Vasilis's mother on 11-11-2021 as part of a preliminary examination procedure. The lawyer asked the mother if she had seen her son again after 14 June 2020. She answered that she saw him every day. Then the lawyer, according to Mangos, "triumphantly waving the document" read to her twice an answer that she allegedly had given: "No, I did not speak to him or meet with him."
The mother immediately disputed having said any such thing. Upon subsequently studying the case file, Giannis Mangos says he discovered that the lawyer was reading "different testimony, of a different person given on a different date" — a person who is not even a witness in the trial. He also points out that the lawyer isolated a specific question and answer, as it is evident from the entire document that this was not testimony from the mother.
"Lies before the court"
The father further alleges that "lies are being told before the court to create impressions". He cites as an example the claim by a lawyer for the accused that there are medical documents confirming that Vasilis was under the influence of substances when admitted to hospital.
Giannis Mangos notes that the family no longer has a defence lawyer, a fact which, according to him, creates "a huge credibility issue" regarding what is heard from the defence side. He also notes that when they attempt to object within the courtroom, they risk being ejected, "because we no longer have any rights".
Appeal to bar associations
Giannis Mangos raises two issues that, according to him, should concern bar associations. Firstly, that the defence duty of lawyers "borders on vulgarity". Secondly, that in this particular case it "resulted in misconduct". He specifically calls on the Volos Bar Association to take up the matter.
Source: ERT