Lignádis case: decision on state prosecutor's appeal set for 17 June
The court of second instance has deferred its decision until 17 June on the appeal against the conviction of the disgraced film director. All three complainants were present in court.
Lignádis trial in second instance: decision deferred until 17 June
The second-instance trial of Dimitris Lignádis opened with procedural legal matters, according to newsit.gr. The actor and former artistic director of the National Theatre had been convicted at first instance to 12 years' imprisonment for two rapes of minors.
Lignádis appeared in the dock, initially stating he was unemployed, before immediately clarifying that "as a philologist, he provides private lessons to students in Ancient Greek and History". Facing him were the three complainants, now young men, who accused him of rape when they were minors. All three attended court. A fourth complainant has never come forward to testify.
The central issue of today's session was the state prosecutor's appeal filed by the Athens Court of Appeal Prosecutor's Office against the first-instance decision. The appeal concerns both the acquittal of the accused by majority vote for one rape of a minor and the length of the sentence imposed upon him.
The defence attorneys sought rejection of the state prosecutor's appeal as unfounded. The presiding judge advocate suggested that the appeal be partially accepted, particularly regarding the sentence imposed, whilst requesting that it be rejected regarding the acquittal at first instance for the rape of the 17-year-old.
The court deferred its decision on these matters until the next session, on 17 June.
Source: Google News GR — Crime (el)