The conference hall was packed as the hearing opened, while the solidarity gathering outside continued to grow, with banners and slogans.
A total of 36 defendants are appearing before the Three-Member Court of Appeal for Felonies in Larissa, 33 of them facing felony charges.
More than 350 witnesses are expected to testify, while at least 230 people, including victims’ relatives, survivors, bar associations and trade unions, are present in support of the prosecution. All the case file material was transferred from the Larissa courthouse to the conference centre only on Friday.
Before proceedings began, tensions flared in the courtroom when former OSE president Spyros Pateras arrived. Maria Karystianou, the former president of the Association of Relatives of Tempi Victims, entered the courtroom and shouted: ‘Tell us what the cargo was carrying. We didn’t come here for the money.’
Speaking afterwards outside the courtroom, she said: ‘One is covering up for the other. If the right judges are found, a great deal can still come to light even now.’
‘I ask the media to leave’
‘At this point, the court will adjourn to allow the media to leave and facilitate the parties’ entry into the courtroom so that the trial can begin. I ask the media to leave. All journalists are to go to another courtroom. This is to facilitate the procedure so that the hearing can proceed. We must have space and quiet,’ the president said, reading out the relevant legislation, prompting strong reactions over the issue of open justice in such a major trial.
Zoe Konstantopoulou, acting as counsel for victims’ families, reacted strongly to the removal of journalists, arguing that there was an issue regarding the guarantee of publicity. ‘You said that the trial would not be covered,’ she said.
The president replied that once the legal formalities had been completed, the issue of publicity would be raised again so that everyone could speak.
Maria Karystianou then shouted: ‘Why are you afraid of publicity?’
The hearing was adjourned for a few minutes so that the bench could discuss the issue of media presence.
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