About the trial against Giorgos Voutsis-Votgiatzis

The trial against Giorgos Voutsis-Voutgiatzis, concerning a bank robbery in 2006, started Wednesday the 1st of April in the court of Athens. The charges against him were armed robbery and posession of explosives (a handgrenade was found on him at the arrest).
About 100 people gathered outside the building in solidarity, only 15 of them were allowed inside by the cops, wich caused some little disturbances from time to time on the stairs to the entrance.

A jury (that in Greece advices the courts verdict, but is not decisive) that was composed of only employees of the bank that was robbed was presented first, and witnesses heard all during the first day.

On Thursday the second of April, eventually the verdict for the robbery resulted in 7 years of imprisonment, and one year for possession of explosives, resulting in 8 years in total. Considering the fact that Giorgos had already spend 18 months in pre-arrest, and worked inside (one day of work equals 2 days in prison), a substantial amount of time is reduced from the final verdict. This, in combination with the 3/5 partial time that one spends for the punishment given, means that Giorgos has to spend another 6 months in prison from now on. He will be transferred to Korydallos prison in Athens, and free in September.
During the first day of trial, the nerves and emotions over the prosecution of a comrade were errupted with joy when it was discovered that two prisoners on trial in the next door building, managed to escape. Most of the overwhelming amounts of (undercover, riot and prison) police were so intensely focussed on the growing group of anarchists outside building 13, that two freedom loving birds spread their wings and flew.