Tempe Trial: Judge appoints public defender to accused due to financial hardship
The court is proceeding with the appointment of a public defender for one of the 36 accused in the trial over the Tempe railway disaster.
Appointment of defender for accused in Tempe trial
The court hearing the case of the Tempe railway disaster has decided to appoint a public defender for one of the 36 accused, according to reports from Google News GR — Crime (el). The accused announced at the last hearing that he is unable to continue with the lawyer who had represented him since the pre-trial stage, citing financial hardship.
The announcement was made during submissions by prosecutors supporting the prosecution's proposal, which concerned a series of requests — including upgrading the charges and calling new witnesses.
Prosecutor's reservations over upgrading charges
The prosecutor expressed reservations about changing the charge of manslaughter by negligence to manslaughter with possible intent. Similarly, she expressed reservations about bringing prosecutions for the offences of endangering and explosion, as well as attributing criminal responsibility to two Hellenic Train executives who currently face only misdemeanours. She stressed that prosecution cannot be brought for acts for which the accused did not provide testimony during the main investigation. She will exercise these reservations after the conclusion of the evidence phase.
The prosecutor, however, recommended rejection of requests for completion of the investigation, annulment of the indictment and withdrawal of the case under Article 324 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
State Legal Council document and State representation
The previous Wednesday the court adjourned the hearing before the submission by Zoi Konstantopoulou, counsel for victims' families. She managed to submit a document dated 6 March 2026 from the State Legal Council to Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Christos Dimas and Deputy Transport Minister Constantine Kyranakis, concerning the Greek State's representation in the trial.
On 20 March 2026, three days before the trial began, Kyranakis requested a statement of the State's representation in support of the prosecution against three night-shift station masters on 28 February 2023 and the then head of the Larissa Inspection Service of the Traffic Support Service. The statement was subsequently accepted by the court.
The 36 accused and the offences
A total of 36 people sit in the dock — employees of OSE, ERGOSE, the Transport and Infrastructure Ministry, Hellenic Train and the Railway Regulatory Authority. The offences against each accused amount to five.
33 of the 36 face the felony charge of dangerous interference with fixed-track transport means with possible intent — an offence that resulted in the death of a large number of people, serious bodily injury and significant damage to public utility facilities. 35 are accused of misdemeanours of manslaughter by negligence in a series, serious and simple bodily injury by negligence, whilst three individuals face a charge of breach of duty.
Eleven court dates scheduled for July
A total of eleven court dates have been scheduled for July, with the final date set for 28 July — prior to today's announcement of the appointment of a public defender.
Source: Google News GR — Crime (el)