At the same time, the court has cleared the way for a forensic examination of the stationmaster’s mobile phone, aimed at recovering calls, messages, communications through applications and any deleted files.

The trial also continued with the testimony of Dimitris and Athanasia Bournazis, who lost their father and brother in the disaster. Dimitris Bournazis demanded accountability, saying: ‘They wagged their fingers at us, telling us everything was safe’, while Athanasia Bournazi said passengers travelling by train are ‘alive by sheer luck’.

According to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (APE-MPA), the Judicial Council of the Special Court accepted the recommendation of Supreme Court deputy prosecutor Dimitris Mitroulias concerning ministerial liability and issued a decree referring Triantopoulos to trial for the misdemeanour offence of breach of duty.

The former deputy minister faces the charge in connection with actions taken at the site of the Tempi railway disaster and the alteration of the scene following the collision of the two trains.

Triantopoulos has denied the charge and maintains that he did not order the alteration of the crash site and bears no responsibility for it.

Stationmaster’s mobile phone to be examined

The court has approved the examination of the mobile phone belonging to the stationmaster who was on duty on the night of the railway disaster.

The request was accepted after the prosecution had already proposed lifting communications secrecy and conducting a forensic examination of the device. The aim is to identify data that may shed light on communications and actions preceding the collision.

The investigation is expected to cover incoming and outgoing calls, as well as text messages. Particular attention will also be paid to communications through applications, including Viber.

Experts will examine the phone’s SIM card and memory card. If deleted files are identified, attempts will be made to recover them to the extent technically possible.

The development could prove significant to the trial, as the stationmaster’s communications during the critical period may be subject to judicial assessment.

‘They wagged their fingers at us, telling us everything was safe’

The trial continued with testimony from Dimitris and Athanasia Bournazis, who lost their father, Evangelos, and their brother, Panagiotis, in the train disaster.

‘The next morning, my father’s brother called me. I called both my brother and my father. No one answered. Their mobile phones had been destroyed. We came to Larissa and I couldn’t find out anything. There was no organisation, it was chaos. We couldn’t find anything in the lists of survivors.

‘We gave a sample for a DNA test. We kept asking about our people. We started wondering what had gone wrong and how, in 2023, two trains had ended up on the same track. We couldn’t imagine what had happened. All these people lost their lives so unjustly because of the negligence of people who are unaware of what is happening around them. There are people in positions of responsibility who are appointed through connections. I’m talking about ministers, stationmasters. There was no safety. Ancient carriages were still running. They wagged their fingers at us, telling us everything was safe. Behind them are 57 families. I can’t believe that in 2023 my father and brother were lost because two trains entered the same line. They would be alive right now.

‘I would like you to deliver justice. Any of you could have been inside those trains. Justice must be done and the sentences must be exemplary. If they get off lightly, this will happen again’, Dimitris Bournazis said.

Athanasia Bournazi said: ‘It all started when they got on that train. They were going to see my nephew. They were sending me photos and they were happy. I thought they were alive. We saw the lists of survivors, but they weren’t there. My father was a strong and worthy man. My brother had so many dreams. We believed our loved ones would reach their destination, and instead they brought back two coffins.

‘Responsibility must be assigned. Each defendant must pay their debt. If responsibility is not assigned, this evil will happen again. Unfortunately, everything is still moving at the same pace. People get on trains and don’t know whether they will get off alive. They are alive by sheer luck.’

______________________________________________

Are you seeking news from Greece presented from a progressive, non-mainstream perspective? Subscribe monthly or annually to support TPP International in delivering independent reporting in English. Don’t let Greek progressive voices fade.

Make sure to reference “TPP International” and your order number as the reason for payment.