Greek November 17 terrorists begin appeals

The appeals trial of Greece’s deadly November 17 terrorist group opened today in a special court in a maximum security Athens jail.

Many of the 17 people on trial received multiple life-terms during the first trial in 2003. The five-judge court will also hear appeals brought by prosecutors against two people acquitted in the first trial of belonging to the extreme left-wing group, which was eradicated in 2002.

The group killed 23 people between 1975 and 2000, and carried out a string of shootings, bomb attacks and bank robberies. Its targets included US, British, Turkish and German diplomats, Greek politicians, businessmen and police officers.

Many victims families, including Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyiannis whose husband was killed by the group in 1989, were attending the proceedings as part of a civil action against the group.

There was little chance that the original verdicts would be overturned in the trial, expected to last about nine months. Under Greece’s anti-terrorism laws, the trial is being held without a jury.

Judge Dionissis Vertelis, who presides over the five-member court, asked all those present “to keep their patience and contribute to a calm climate during the trial”.

Defence lawyers have said they hope their clients would fare better in the appeal proceedings in Korydallos Prison, western Athens, claiming the first process was tainted by intense international and domestic pressure ahead of the 2004 Athens Olympics.

The convicted leader of November 17, 61-year-old Alexandros Giotopoulos, insisted to reporters that he was innocent. He is serving 21 life sentences.

“My conviction is absurd and ridiculous,” he said during a short break. “Some people were forced to confess to 90 acts of violence to which I had no participation. If this court is fair and respects the law it has only one solution, to fully find me innocent.”

November 17’s main hit man, Dimitris Koufodinas, described the trial as being political. Also known as “poison hand,” Koufodinas has not denied his participation in November 17 and is serving 13 life sentences and 25 years for 12 murders.

“It is a political trial,” the 47-year-old beekeeper told the court in a statement. “The system wants not only to convict certain people but to secure the political and ideological defeat of the ideas, the principle and the visions of the revolutionary left.”

The first day of the trial began with a request by lawyers representing Savas Xiros, a 43-year-old painter of religious icons who is serving six life sentences, to be allowed to participate in the appeal.

Xiros had originally refused to appeal against his original conviction and sentencing, but later changed his mind. Prosecutor Efterpi Goutzamani asked the court to accept the request.

Xiros was severely injured when a bomb exploded prematurely in his hands in June 2002, leading to his arrest and the group’s break-up. In his plea, he argued that prison doctors were unable to properly treat long-term sight and hearing problems that resulted from his injuries. Two of Xiros’ brothers were also sentenced to multiple life sentences for taking part in the attacks.

Following a blend of Marxist and nationalist ideologies, November 17 was named after the date of a student-led uprising in 1973 that helped topple the 1967-1974 military dictatorship.