Lignadis trial on appeal: three rapes of minors and risk of heavier sentence
The court accepted the prosecutor's appeal and Dimitris Lignadis is now being tried for three rapes. The trial was adjourned until tomorrow due to a request for the appointment of a specialist psychologist.
Lignadis: Trial essentially starts from scratch on appeal
The Mixed Jury Court of Appeal accepted the prosecutor's appeal against the first-instance decision in the Lignadis case, with the result that the former head of the National Theatre, Dimitris Lignadis, now faces charges of three rapes of minors and the risk of a heavier sentence being imposed, according to reports by ERT.
The first-instance court had imposed a prison sentence of 12 years with suspension for the rapes of two 17-year-olds in 2015, which were committed in Athens and Epidaurus. At the same time, it had acquitted him by majority for rape against a 15-year-old, and unanimously for a rape case involving an adult who had never appeared in the proceedings.
The appeal court accepted both limbs of the appeal by the Prosecutor's Office of the Appeals Court: the reconsideration of the acquittal for the 15-year-old, as well as the examination of whether the imposed sentence was proportionate to the "depravity and severity of the act and the harm caused to the victims". Thus, Lignadis is now essentially being tried from the beginning for all three cases.
Request for specialist psychologist — trial adjourned until tomorrow
Immediately after the decision on the appeal, the defendant's defence requested the appointment of a specialist psychologist or psychiatrist as an expert, citing a provision that provides for the examination and preparation of "vulnerable witnesses" by a specialist. The purpose, as the lawyers stated, is to assess the cognitive ability and mental state of the complainants.
The lawyers for the complainants did not object to the request, putting the matter to the court's discretion. The presiding prosecutor recommended that it be accepted, but requested an indefinite adjournment of the trial to allow the law to be applied.
"The witnesses were examined in the first-instance court with physical presence without their testimony being read. A specialist psychologist must be appointed as an expert and the case must be adjourned so that he can prepare them for examination and be present during their examination by the court," the prosecutor stated.
At the same time, the prosecutor requested that a social investigation be carried out for the "vulnerable witnesses" by the Department of Social Welfare Officers, noting that the relevant provision also provides for this step. The complainants are now adults.
The court adjourned the session and will decide tomorrow on the request for the appointment of an expert.
Source: ERT