With the two motions regarding audiovisual coverage and broadcast of the sessions and the in-person appearance of defendants, the trial regarding the train accident in Tempi.
At the last session of the Three-Member Court of Appeals for Felonies in Larissa, the prosecutor proposed that both motions be rejected, followed by the statements of the defense attorneys for the defendants, which are scheduled to conclude today. The prosecution’s proposal will also be addressed by the attorneys supporting the prosecution, after which the court’s decision is expected.
It should be noted that the court has already rejected the two motions filed by the prosecution’s counsel requesting that the trial transcripts be forwarded to the special investigator of the Supreme handling the case of former Minister of Transportation Kostas Achilleas Karamanlis and for the production of the correspondence between the State Legal Council and the former Deputy Minister of Transportation Kostas Kyranakis regarding the representation of the Greek State.
The defense attorneys’ motions will be addressed by the court in upcoming sessions, now that the procedural phase regarding the legal standing of the parties has been completed. It should be noted that relatives of the victims, the injured, passengers on the passenger train, and the Greek government, which has appeared in support of the prosecution only for the three accused stationmasters on the afternoonand evening shifts, as well as the head of the Larissa Inspection Department of the Central and Southern Greece (railways) of Central and Southern Greece during the period when the deadly accident occurred.
The defendants
In total, there are 36 defendants in the case, including executives and employees of OSE and ERGOSE, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Hellenic Train, and the Hellenic Railway Regulatory Authorityfor omissions related to the implementation of Contract 717, the supervision of the railway network, the transfer of the stationmaster, operations at the Larissa Railway Station on the evening of February 28, and the lack of safety measures on the disputed section of the Larissa – New Resources.
The Offenses
There are five offenses for which they are charged, as applicable. For the felony of dangerous interference with fixed-track transportation with possible intent to cause harm, involving acts dangerous to transportation safety, which could have resulted in a general danger to property and a danger to people, and which resulted in: a) the death of a large number of people, b) serious bodily injury to a number of people, and c) significant damage to public utility facilities; 33 individuals are jointly charged with these offenses, which were committed repeatedly and in concert. For the three misdemeanors of negligent homicide committed in succession, serious bodily injury by negligence committed repeatedly by a person in a position of responsibility, and simple bodily injury by negligence committed repeatedly by a person in a position of responsibility, 35 individuals are charged. Three individuals are charged with the misdemeanor of breach of duty.
It should be noted that regarding the offense of breach of duty, the court rejected the defendants’ objections and accepted the testimonies of the relatives and the injured parties.
It should be noted that a total of eleven court dates have been scheduled for July, with three consecutive sessions during the first two weeks of the month.
