To overturn the decision of the Joint Sworn Court of Appeal of Lamia, by which the former special guard Epamineondas Korkoneas, who had been convicted for the murder of 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos, was released from prison, Prosecutor Vassilis proposed to the Plenary Session of the Supreme Court.
The special guard was released, as he was granted the mitigating factor of his former legal life.
Alexandros Grigoropoulos’s mother, Gina Tsalakian, and his sister, Areti Grigoropoulos, were present in the courtroom.
Epamineondas Korkoneas was released just one day after the decision of the Joint Jury of Appeal of Lamia, according to which he was sentenced to 13 years for the murder of Alexandros Grigoropoulos, as he was granted the mitigation of his previous legal life.
The former special guard had already completed 11 years in prison, while in the time he had spent, the favorable calculation of the work he provided in the prisons was counted, that is, the “per diems” he did as an inmate.
Today, at the beginning of the procedure, the president of the Supreme Court, Maria Georgiou, pointed out from the headquarters that after the changes in the Penal Code, this decision that will be issued by the Plenary Session of the Supreme Court is, in her personal opinion, the most important.
The case was taken to the Supreme Court after the appeal against the decision that sentenced the former special guard to 13 years in prison by the prosecutor of the Supreme Court Vassilis Pliotas, who today with a detailed speech asked to overturn the controversial decision and the case to be led to a new crisis in the Mixed Jury Court of Appeal of Lamia.
Mr. Pliotas pointed out that legal life is not identified with the white criminal record of the perpetrator, but with respect for the goods of everyday life. The existence of a white criminal record is a serious indication but not binding on the court, as a systematic effort is required on the part of the court to consider the crime in the perpetrator’s life as an exception.
As Mr. Pliotas characteristically stated, “the white criminal record is not connected with the legal life, so that the mitigation of the previous honest life can be granted”.
At the same time, Mr. Pliotas referred to the principle of proportionality, pointing out that the decision for the recognition of the mitigating factor in Korkoneas lacks a specific and detailed reasoning. He added that facts, revealing the identity of the accused, were literally ignored, as well as facts that show the accused’s lack of respect for a number of goods, such as the testimony of the unfortunate young man’s mother. And all this despite the fact that in the same decision the direct deceit of the accused, who insulted the supreme good of life, is accepted.
Nikos Konstantopoulos and Zoe Konstantopoulou, advocates of Alexandros Grigoropoulos’s family, asked to have a say in the appeal, but the Plenary, after a conference, ruled by a majority that they had no say.
This was followed by the speech of Evangelos Androulas, lawyer of Epameinondas Korkoneas, who refuted the grounds of appeal.
The court reserved the right to issue its decision and appointed Anna Aggelatou Areopagite as rapporteur.
Gina Tsalikian said: “The thread of his life was violently cut at the age of 15. If he were alive today he would be a 29 year old lad. “His killer is free.”
The lawyer of the Tsalikian family, Zoe Konstantopoulou, spoke about a case that has stigmatized and has left an indelible mark on all of us. As he noted, Korkoneas has been free since July 30, 2019 and in case the prosecutor’s appeal is not accepted, this will be an encouragement for the next child criminal.
Nikos Konstantopoulos, for his part, pointed out that decisions dictated by various expediencies undermine the credibility of Justice and the citizen’s trust in it and added: “Alexander’s mother and family are seeking redemption in the drama they have been living in for 15 years. ».
Follow Skai.gr on Google News
and be the first to know all the news
I have worked in the news industry for over 10 years. I have a vast amount of experience in covering health news. I am also an author at News Bulletin 247. I am highly experienced and knowledgeable in this field. I am a hard worker and always deliver quality work. I am a reliable source of information and always provide accurate information.
