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Greek Court Upholds Life Sentence for Officer in Grigoropoulos' Murder

In a significant judicial decision Wednesday, the Mixed Jury Court of Lamia unanimously upheld the life imprisonment sentence for former special guard Epameinondas Korkoneas, who fatally shot 15-year-old Alexis Grigoropoulos in December 2008. The court rejected the defense's request for recognition of "prior honest life" as a mitigating circumstance, ensuring the original sentence remains in effect.

Korkoneas will be required to serve a minimum of 16 years before becoming eligible for conditional release. Having already served 11 years until 2019, plus an additional 16 months following the overturning of two appellate court decisions that had previously granted his release, Korkoneas faces approximately another 3 years and 8 months of imprisonment before he can apply for release, around February 2029.

The case has experienced significant procedural delays, with the trial being adjourned three times since March due to court composition issues, including a juror's illness. This latest ruling brings a measure of closure to a case that has spanned nearly 17 years in the Greek judicial system.

The Alexis Grigoropoulos Murder and Its Aftermath in Greece

The killing of Alexis Grigoropoulos on December 6, 2008, triggered the most severe civil unrest Greece had witnessed in decades. Grigoropoulos was shot in the Exarcheia district of Athens, an area known for its anarchist presence, during a verbal altercation between police and a group of teenagers.

The shooting sparked immediate riots that quickly spread throughout Athens and to other major Greek cities, including Thessaloniki, Patras, and Heraklion. For nearly three weeks, protesters engaged in demonstrations, clashes with police, and widespread property damage. The unrest reflected deeper societal tensions related to economic uncertainty, youth unemployment, and distrust of authorities.

The case became emblematic of police brutality concerns in Greece and continues to resonate in Greek society. Annual commemorations of Grigoropoulos's death regularly draw protesters to the site of his killing, and his name has become a powerful symbol in discussions about police accountability and youth activism in Greece.

Photo: Flickr

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