Yesterday’s highly anticipated start of the trial for the Tempe railway tragedy was marked by serious problems of inadequacy and danger in the courtroom, along with intense reactions from victims’ relatives and survivors of the rail disaster. The proceedings were repeatedly interrupted and the court will reconvene on April 1st.
The session took place at the “Gaiopolis” conference center of the University of Thessaly, a venue that the Ministry of Justice had promoted as suitable for hosting the high-profile trial. However, from the very first moment it became clear that the courtroom could not meet the increased demands of the proceedings. Victims’ relatives, survivors and lawyers found themselves in suffocating conditions, with many unable even to sit down. Court president Georgia Stefanidou requested the removal of media at the start of proceedings to begin legitimizations. However, the prevailing conditions immediately sparked reactions from relatives and prosecution support lawyers, who denounced that the proceedings could not continue under these circumstances.
Tensions escalated quickly, with victims’ relatives expressing their indignation, while repeated requests for adjournment were submitted by prosecution support lawyers. The court adjourned a total of four times, without making smooth progress of the proceedings possible. Andreas Koutsolambros, president of the Coordinating Committee of the General Assembly of Greek Bar Associations, also intervened in the proceedings, requesting suspension of the trial, noting that basic safety and functionality prerequisites were not met. Similarly, Theodoros Mantas, representative of the Athens Bar Association, warned of possible lawyer boycotts if conditions do not improve.
Tempe trial to continue on April 1st
Of the total 36 defendants, only three appeared in court, while the case is considered one of the largest in modern Greek history, with hundreds of witnesses, more than 250 lawyers and case files exceeding 60,000 pages. Finally, after continuous interruptions and a fainting incident in the courtroom, the president announced suspension of proceedings and set a new trial date for April 1st. After the session ended, the Coordinating Committee of Bar Associations called on the State to immediately take measures to ensure unobstructed conduct of the trial.
Sources from the Ministry of Justice maintain that the “Gaiopolis” courtroom constitutes the largest available judicial space in the country, noting that total capacity reaches 450 people, while the main auditorium can accommodate 312 people. However, the main trial space can serve approximately 250 seated people. Meanwhile, the Region of Thessaly, in its announcement, expressed strong displeasure with the prevailing situation, clarifying that it had no responsibility for the design or capacity of the courtroom. As emphasized, responsibility for ensuring suitable trial conditions institutionally belongs to the Ministry of Justice. The trial is expected to continue on April 1st, with competent authorities called upon to address the organizational problems highlighted by the first day of proceedings.
