Today's hearing in the trial of Dimitris Lignadi was held in high tones, who is on trial for four cases of serial rape of minors and adult males.
The defense attorney for the accused director and actor continued to examine the 25-year-old man of Egyptian origin, who had reported Dimitris Lignadis for raping him in Epidaurus, in the summer of 2015.
Questioning the credibility of the complainant, Mr. Kougias asked the court to hand over his mobile phone, to be transcribed and to include in the case file all the material stored on it. As the defendant's lawyer said, every communication that the 25-year-old has had since February 11, 2022, when the hearing began, with every person, regardless of whether or not they are related to the case, should be included.
The prosecution reacted strongly to this request submitted by the director's defense, with defense lawyer M. Kourtesi noting that for this request "there must be a basis in the law." Furthermore, the counsel said that the defence must clarify the legitimate interest and whether the messages will contribute anything in relation to the case file.
"The prosecution's defence has chosen a way of supporting its interests that violates the principles of a fair trial. The alleged victim claimed that they had close contact (with the accused)," Kougias responded to add: "Shouldn't this claim be supported by the prosecution? It appears as a child drifting, they should open the social media. They took a leaf out of the defendant's life, they took his electronic devices. It will appear that the story has been fabricated by Mrs. Kourtesi."
Tensions rose in the hearing
After these statements, tensions rose in the courtroom with the court adjourning its session until next Friday.
In fact, while addressing questions to the 25-year-old witness, the following dialogues took place in the audience:
Al. Kougias: The third appointment with the interrogator who booked it?
Witness: Mrs. Kourtesi
Al. Kougias: Do you remember if there was an incident with me then?
Witness: Yes I remember, you had entered the office while I was inside/
Al. Kouyas: What was I saying? Do you remember?
Witness: No, just that you were shouting.
Al. Kougias: Don't you remember that I said that the interrogator was dictating what to say?
President: What does this have to do with the charges?
Al. Kougias:[/B]: Now you will see! we are talking about the biggest judicial scandal...
Then the defence counsel, addressing his colleague, said: "Normally they should take away your license, this is not a political office."
Kourtesi: You know very well the procedure and what applies, unless you are unread.
Kougias: It is a shame, you set up a plot.
M. Kourtesi: Not to me this!
Al. Kougias: Who are you? Since you are setting up cases...
M. Kourtesi: Panic is a bad advisor.
President: We adjourn to calm down.
The next trial date has been set for April 15.
Source: protothema.gr
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