With seven defendants absent from the bench of the Three-Member Court of Misdemeanors, including the then chief and deputy chief of the Fire Department as well as the then regional governor of Attica, the second instance trial for the fatal tragedy in Mati began at the Three-Member Court of Misdemeanors.

The court, in whose composition two substitute members as well as a deputy prosecutor were drawn, announced at the start of the proceedings the names of the 21 defendants.

Among them, the then leader of the PS Sotiris Terzoudis, the deputy leader Vassilis Matthaiopoulos, the then ELAS aerial officer Charalambos Syrogiannis, the then regional governor Rena Dourou, the then mayor Marathon Ilias chose to be represented by their lawyers and not appear in court. Psinakis, the then deputy mayor of Marathon Vaios Thaumasias and the citizen who is credited with starting the disastrous fire Konstantinos Angelopoulos.

The process continued with the declarations of representation in support of the Category with first the relatives of those who died in the fire and then with those present for physical injuries, injured, burned etc.

After appointing counsel, the court will ex officio appoint a defense counsel for the then head of ESKE Ioannis Fostieris, one of those convicted at first instance, who was tried in the first instance without a lawyer, as the law allowed for misdemeanor charges.

However, with the recent amendments to the codes, in similar offenses the court is obliged to appoint a lawyer when the accused does not have one, so that issues of invalidity are not raised.

At the same time, the court decided to replace the deputy president who declared herself an obstacle after the legalizations of the defense and support lawyers for the charge for reasons of decency.

Earlier, the president announced the names of dozens of witnesses, who will be called to testify about the fire that left behind hundreds of dead, enormous destruction and unspeakable pain.

The trial will continue tomorrow.