Her exemption of the two managers of the elderly care unit in Thessaloniki, where in August 2020 there was a flurry of Covid-19 cases, resulting in their deaths 28 elderly people from complications associated with coronavirussuggested to the judges of the Mixed Jury Court of Thessaloniki, the Prosecutor of the Headquarters.

“They bear no responsibility for the deaths and they must be found innocent,” said the prosecutor, concluding her sentence, with which she recommended the acquittal of the two accused brothers: the first as responsible for scientific matters and the second as responsible for administrative matters.

“An effort was made by the defendants to take every appropriate measure to prevent the transmission of the coronavirus,” the prosecutor’s office pointed out, stressing that they were taking more effective measures than those foreseen.

Analyzing the indictment and commenting one by one on the five prevention measures that they are accused of violating (such as excessive numbers of people being cared for, not keeping the distances in the guest rooms of the elderly and in common areas, not carrying out preventive tests for the molecular detection of the virus for the early detection of cases, non-separation of waste), the prosecutor pointed out that for three of these measures there was no explicit obligation to observe them during the disputed period with corresponding decisions of the competent health authorities. For the other two measures he said that one was implemented and the other was partially adhered to, but this was not responsible for the spread of the virus.

The process was suspended and will continue with the procurement of civil action and defense attorneys.