It continues today, Monday, the trial of Dimitris Lignadis, with the defendant arriving at the Mixed Jury Court of Athens shortly before 8 am:30 am.
The high-profile trial of the former artistic director of the National Theatre who is accused of "serial rape" of minors and young men continues with victim testimonies.
Tension in court
It is noted that last Friday the trial continued with the examination of the second prosecution witness by the prosecution and defence lawyers. The defendant was present in the witness box, as in every session of the court.
The 25-year-old witness, who is now 25 years old, alleges that at the age of 17 he was sexually abused by the defendant in a hotel in Epidaurus, where they had gone to attend a theatrical performance.
During his examination by the prosecution lawyers, the witness recalled his decision to proceed with the complaint and burst into tears:
"I didn't care that the rape had happened. I cared that it shouldn't have happened to me. Everyone was telling me not to go. My family, my friends. Everyone told me not to go because they were afraid of the defendant, of what could happen in court. As if rape is not something serious, as if rape is not something..."
He described as "very violent" the offence he alleges took place in the hotel and when asked why he did not defend himself, he explained: "I couldn't. I was frozen. I felt my hands were tied when they weren't. That shock of not being able to move, have you ever felt that?"
The defendant's lawyer, Alexis Kougias, asked the witness to re-enact the scene of the alleged rape by approaching him. The witness then made a pushing back motion towards the defence lawyer and asked him not to approach him.
Witness: from a distance please, it does not bother me...
Common: This is unacceptable, abusive!
Kougias insisted that the witness show how the alleged act took place and when the proceedings were concluded, the president of the court asked the lawyer to return to his seat.
Source: in.gr
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