The unprecedented events that occurred yesterday inside the courtroom, with the defense attorney throwing a bottle at the prosecution attorney and then receiving curses and bottles thrown at him by the public, dominated today’s proceedings in the murder trial of Kyriaki Griva by her partner. A representative of the Bar Association, who ordered a disciplinary investigation, was present in court today. He appealed to all parties to lower the tensions, while the prosecutor, invoking our legal civilization, said that even the most heinous murderer has the right to a fair trial, given that we live in a state of law.
“It was sad that some colleagues had personal involvement in yesterday’s events. Yesterday, at a very important moment and occasion, the work of the conference of Greek lawyers was completed, and the topic of discussion was yesterday’s incidents that took place. The association’s body judged that these incidents are subject to disciplinary review. I am absolutely certain that if the bar association had not reacted immediately, we would have faced the opposite criticism. The intervention was necessary. In our opinion, there are excellent colleague lawyers on both sides,” said Mr. Mantas among other things and added “we appeal to all factors of the trial, to the regular judges, presiding judge, prosecutor but primarily to my colleagues to lower the tensions and continue this trial with sobriety and adherence to ethical rules,” emphasized the representative of the Athens Bar Association, Theodoros Mantas.
Kyriaki Griva murder trial: Request for closed-door proceedings
The prosecutor also emphasized that every defendant, even one who has committed the most heinous crime, has the right to a fair trial. The court president also made a statement about yesterday’s events, specifically referring to the presence of the defendant’s mother, who, as she noted, testified for two days before the court. “This woman appeared in court not in opposition to the victim’s family, but as the defendant’s mother, to testify what she knows. From the beginning, she says she is with the victim’s family,” she emphasized, adding that she faced harsh characterizations of her son, such as “monster,” “pimp,” and “go to hell” — expressions that, under the weight of emotional charge, were tolerated by the court. At that point, according to the president, the witness reacted intensely, hitting her hand, and the defendant’s attorney threw the bottle.
Earlier, the defense attorney, who threw the bottle, also submitted a request for closed-door proceedings, which was rejected by the court with a corresponding prosecutorial proposal. The court reserved the right to forward the minutes to the Athens Bar Association.
The defendant’s mother’s testimony
The defendant’s mother’s testimony continued with her lawyer asking her questions and her repeatedly saying while crying that what she wants is for her son to be convicted and to receive his treatment.
After a trial recess, the prosecution attorney repeated his accusations against the presiding judge, asking her to submit a recusal request from the trial herself, while Zoe Konstantopoulou and Stefanos Kasselakis were present in the courtroom.
The trial will continue on July 16.
