ATHENS, March 23 (Reuters) – The long-awaited trial over a train crash that killed 57 people in Greece in 2023 was adjourned soon after opening on Monday due to poor courtroom conditions and amid protests outside against what many see as the state’s role in the incident.
Lawyers and relatives complained that the room – a converted university hall – was too small for hundreds of people involved in the process, while judges cited technical problems such as sound issues behind the decision to adjourn until April 1.
A passenger train carrying students collided with a freight train at Tempi in central Greece on February 28, 2023. It was the worst disaster of its kind in Greece and triggered a years-long investigation.
The crash, which caused a fireball and an explosion, shed light on state failings, including corruption, safety deficiencies and years of neglect of the rail network during the last decade’s debt crisis.
It has led to mass protests across Greece in which demonstrators have demanded political accountability and an end to politicians’ immunity.
The 36 defendants include a station master, rail managers and former railway operator executives, with charges ranging from traffic disruption that led to the deaths to negligent manslaughter and causing bodily harm. No politicians have been tried.
On Monday, most of the defendants did not appear in court.
The trial is expected to last up to three years and more than 350 witnesses will testify, victims’ relatives, survivors and train workers among them.
“Like our children who departed hugged, together, we’ll stay united like a fist until the end,” Mirela Routsi, who lost her son in the crash, told reporters earlier.
Most of the victims died in the crash, others were killed by the fire, probes have shown. Relatives say questions remain unanswered.
Rail services were halted on Monday as Greek train workers staged a symbolic 24-hour strike.
Hundreds of protesters rallied outside the heavily guarded court. Some held banners reading: “We won’t forget, we won’t forgive.”
Probes have found that a project co-funded by the European Union to install safety systems was launched in 2014 but was years behind schedule in 2023. Relatives have also accused authorities of trying to cover up evidence.
The centre-right government, which denies wrongdoing, has promised justice and pledged full railway reform by 2027.
(Reporting by Renee Maltezou; editing by Edward McAllister, Toby Chopra, and Andrei Khalip)
Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.