The lengthy adjournment was granted, as announced by the president of the court during the penultimate session, in order for rearrangement works to be carried out in the hall of the Conference Centre at Gaiopolis (former TEI Larissa), where the trial is being held.
It is recalled that there had been strong reactions from relatives of victims and lawyers during the opening session on 23 March regarding the suitability of the venue. Since then, partitions were removed to merge the foyer with the main courtroom and increase seating capacity. The works began after 28 April and were completed a few days before today’s session.
According to the new layout published on Friday, space was taken from the judges’ conference room and the transcription room, while additional benches were installed for lawyers and the seats behind the defendants were replaced with benches.
As stated in the supplementary decision signed by the President of the Court of Appeal of Larissa, Maria Lianou, the “lecture hall of the Conference Centre of the University of Thessaly at the ‘Gaiopolis’ complex (former TEI Larissa), with an area of 452.01 sq.m., is designated for the seat of the Court, the benches of the lawyers, as well as the positions of the defendants etc.” An additional hearing room, the main reception area to the right of the entrance of the Conference Centre, with an area of 109.57 sq.m., will serve as an audience space equipped with screens.
Supplementary order – Who will be in the courtroom
Following the changes, a supplementary order published yesterday states that today’s session will include the 36 defendants, all parties supporting the prosecution (around 250), their lawyers (around 240), and accredited journalists, while third parties (up to 110 people) will be accommodated in the adjoining additional room.
Continuation of objections
Today, the trial continues with objections by the defendants regarding the declarations of support for the prosecution, mainly concerning the Bar Associations and the Train Drivers’ Union “Panhellenic Union of Locomotive Staff”. More than 200 individuals, mostly relatives of victims and injured persons, have declared participation in support of the prosecution. Almost all defendants stated that they do not intend to object to the presence of relatives and injured persons.
The objections are mainly directed against around fifty Bar Associations across Greece and the Train Drivers’ Union. Four defendants are also seeking the exclusion of the Greek State, which declared its intention to support the prosecution in the 27 April session. The State’s action is directed only against the three stationmasters of the afternoon and night shifts of 28 February and the then head of the Larissa Inspection Department of the Traffic Support Service.
In the last session, the lawyer for the inspector began presenting arguments for the exclusion of the State, and today lawyers for the stationmasters are expected to submit their objections, followed by the remaining defence lawyers.
It is recalled that 36 individuals are defendants in the case, including officials and employees of OSE, ERGOSE, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Hellenic Train and the Hellenic Railways Regulatory Authority. Thirty‑three of them are charged with the felony of dangerous interference with rail transport with possible intent, resulting in a large number of deaths, serious bodily harm to many people and significant damage to public infrastructure. Thirty‑five are also charged with the misdemeanours of multiple counts of negligent homicide and bodily harm, while three OSE officials face additional charges of breach of duty.
Once the objection stage is completed, and following the prosecutor’s proposal and the court’s decision on objections and legal standing, the process will move to procedural requests, nullities and other stages preceding the examination of evidence.
One request already submitted is by lawyer Zoë Konstantopoulou, representing victims’ relatives and injured persons, regarding the recording and broadcasting of the trial. The court reserved its decision until the conclusion of the legal standing stage, to allow all parties to present their positions. The prosecutor had proposed rejection, arguing that the public nature of the trial is ensured through the presence of journalists.
It is noted that hearings have been scheduled throughout June, twice a week, and one day during the first week of July.
