With the court’s decision to convene despite the ongoing abstention of Greece’s Bar Associations, as well as with the drawing of lots for the jurors participating in the composition of the 1st Mixed Jury Court of Appeal, the appeal trial of the two defendants for the killing of Zack Kostopoulos / Zackie Oh started today.
Requests for postponement and waivers from the lawyers’ abstention
The proceedings began at 09:17, in room D 120 A´, on the 6th floor of the Athens Court of Appeal building. Present of the two defendants was only Athanasios Hortarias. Present from the side of the support of the prosecution were Eleni, Efthimios and Nikolaos Kostopoulos (the victim’s family).
Counsel Glykas (for the defense of A. Hortarias) and Paparousou (support of the prosecution) submitted to the court a request for postponement, since the abstention declared by the Plenary of the country’s Bar Associations has a strict framework and continues until January 5, 2024.
However, lawyer Anagnostopoulos (for the defence of Sp. Dimopoulos), presented to the court an exemption permit which he has received from the Athens Bar Association and of which neither the lawyer of his client’s co-defendant, nor the lawyers supporting the prosecution were aware.
The court ruled that as long as there is a waiver for the abstention, it covers all counsel.
Composition of the court
After a brief recess to allow counsel to brief and settle the matter with the Bar Associations to which they belong, the court proceeded to draw and select the four jurors who will serve on the jury.
The composition was as follows:
President of the Court: Alexandra Vasilakakakou
Regular judges: Dimitrios Economou, Ioanna Hatzaki
Jury: Asimakopoulou, Athanasopoulou, Kotsopoulou, Kourou
Public Prosecutor: Stylianos Kostarellos
Next court dates
After the four jurors were sworn in and took their seats next to the three regular judges, the court set the next hearings for the month of January 2024: 12, 18 and 26.
The court adjourned at 1:01 p.m. for the next trial date, January 12, 2024.
The full text of our transcript from the courtroom (in Greek) :
