Tempe trial: Three defence counsel appointed for defendant – Adjournment until Tuesday
The three-member criminal court of appeals of Larissa appointed three defence lawyers to one of the 36 defendants and adjourned proceedings until Tuesday.
Three state-appointed defence counsel for defendant in Tempe trial
Today's new session of the trial into the railway disaster at Tempe opened with the appointment of three defence counsel for one of the 36 defendants, according to Google News GR — Crime. The three-member criminal court of appeals of Larissa proceeded with the procedure after the particular defendant, at the previous Wednesday session, declared inability to afford the cost of a private lawyer and requested state-appointed legal representation.
The presiding judge appointed three lawyers with the aim, as she emphasised, of "accelerating the procedure". The three defence counsel accepted the responsibility for the defence, stating however that they require time to familiarise themselves with the case file. Following their statement, the court adjourned proceedings until Tuesday.
During today's session, concerns were expressed about the pace of progress in the trial. "It is the court that does not want voidness, but it also does not want delays," the presiding judge stressed.
In parallel, submissions from defence counsel for the prosecution and defence regarding the prosecutor's proposal on a series of critical motions remain pending: upgrading of charges, calling of new witnesses and submission of documents.
The prosecutor has reserved her position on the possible conversion of the manslaughter charge from negligence to manslaughter with possible intent, as well as on the initiation of prosecutions relating to the offences of exposure and explosion. The attribution of the felony of disruption of transport safety to two executives of Hellenic Train, who currently face only misdemeanour charges, is also being examined. The prosecutor noted that it is not possible to initiate prosecution for acts for which the defendants did not answer in the main investigation.
Similarly, the prosecutor reserved her position on motions for calling new witnesses and submission of documents until such time as the evidentiary procedure commences. She proposed, however, the rejection of motions for supplementation of the investigation, annulment of the summons order and withdrawal of the case based on article 324 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Source: Google News GR — Crime (el)