Greek court appoints public defender for Tempi train‑crash defendant

The criminal trial for the February 2023 Tempi rail disaster continues in the Gaïopolis courtroom in Larissa. The panel of three judges of the Larissa Court of Appeals expects to appoint a court‑assigned public defender for one of the 36 accused, after the defendant said he could not afford his private lawyer.

Three lawyers – Alexandros Konstantinidou, Dimitrios Nota and Ioannis Iliadis – were named as the new defenders, and the defendant accepted their appointment. The prosecution has asked for several procedural measures, including an upgrade of the homicide charge from negligent to intentional with possible intent, the addition of new witnesses and documents, and the removal of certain procedural safeguards. The prosecutor also sought to cancel the court‑appointed timetable and to dismiss the case under article 324 of the Criminal Procedure Code, but the judges have left those requests pending.

The case involves 36 defendants from the state rail operator, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, Hellenic Train and the railway regulator, charged with offenses ranging from dangerous interference with railway safety (33 defendants) to negligent homicide, bodily injury and breach of duty. The trial is slated for eleven sessions, with the final hearing scheduled for 28 July.