The three police officers accused of the brutal beating of Vasilis Maggos outside the Volos Courthouse on June 14, 2020, were found guilty by the Single-Member Misdemeanour Court and sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for three years.

The court’s ruling follows the prosecution’s recommendation, confirming that the police officers caused serious bodily harm to the 26-year-old activist. Meanwhile, the Council of Misdemeanour Courts is expected to approve the prosecution’s proposal to escalate the charges against six police officers to felonies, referring them to trial at the Larissa Court of Appeals.

As he left the courtroom, Vasilis’ father, Yiannis Maggos, shouted, “So the torturers are guilty!”

The court’s decision and the prosecutor’s stance

The prosecutor rejected the defence’s request for mitigating factors, stating:

  • “The way they acted showed anything but humble motives.”
  • “They claim to have behaved properly after the fact, but not enough time has passed for this argument to hold.”

She proposed 10 months in prison for the first two officers and 8 months for the third, yet the court ultimately sentenced all three officers to two years in prison.

Speaking to The Press Project (TPP), Yiannis Maggos reacted to the verdict:

“For our child, justice was served today in court, but vindication had already come from society. The sentence reflects what truly happened—that police officers beat and tortured our son for no reason.”

The family’s lawyer, Thodoros Kapatos, added:

“The court convicted the defendants exactly as charged. It emphasised that a citizen peacefully exercising his right to protest was subjected to excessive police violence, resulting in a dangerous injury that could have been fatal.”

Inside the courtroom: The prosecution’s damning assessment of police conduct

During the trial, the prosecutor’s argument was a direct condemnation of police brutality:

  • She recalled that the protest against the Lafarge cement plant’s garbage burning in Volos had not ended peacefully and that Maggos had been actively involved in social movements.
  • However, she emphasised that “the right to assemble is an inalienable right”, and that Molotov cocktails and violent incidents are exceptions, not the rule.

She then denounced the police officers’ unjustifiable use of force, stating:

“Police officers beating a citizen who is lying on the ground? Why should this bring to mind images of other dark times when people’s rights were not self-evident?”

And she added:

“This was an ugly image that does not honour the police. I want to believe the defendants regret it.”

The prosecutor refuted the officers’ claims of self-defence, stressing that Maggos was already immobilised when he was attacked:

  • “They had the strength, the training, and the manpower to subdue him without excessive force.”
  • “Instead, they used batons, a weapon of last resort, and targeted areas of the body where injuries could be life-threatening.”

She dismissed the defence’s justification that Maggos was wearing a jacket in the summer and could have concealed a weapon:

“Alas, if every citizen wearing a jacket is deemed dangerous. Alas, if we accept that a man with bare hands could be more dangerous than three armed police officers.”

A courtroom walkout and protests in the streets

Upon hearing the guilty verdict, the family and supporters of Maggos walked out in protest, highlighting the absurdity of a trial in which they were denied the right to participate as civil claimants.

Outside the courthouse, solidarity demonstrators took to the streets, chanting:

“There is no peace without justice—what they did to Vasilis will not be forgotten!”

A spontaneous march through Volos followed, with protesters carrying banners reading:

“Vasilis’ blood will not be forgotten—Lafarge and the State are guilty.”

What’s next?

The defendants are expected to appeal the verdict, while a final decision is awaited from the Volos Council of Misdemeanour Courts, which will determine whether three additional police officers will be referred for felony charges at the Mixed Jury Court of Appeal in Larissa.

Meanwhile, the family and legal team vow to continue their fight for full justice. As Yiannis Maggos declared:

“The struggle continues!”

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