A Greek court yesterday convicted a policeman of murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment for the shooting of a 15-year-old whose death sparked massive riots in Athens two years ago.
A panel of judges and jurors at a court in the tiny remote mountain town of Amfissa found the 38-year-old police officer, Epaminodas Korkoneas, guilty of intentionally shooting Alexandros Grigoropoulos on December 6, 2008 in central Athens.
A second officer, 32-year-old Vassileos Saraltiotis, was convicted of complicity and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
The policemen claim the teenager died from a ricocheting bullet when the officers fired a warning shot after they came under attack from the youths during a night patrol in Exarchia. The lawyer for the two officers said they would both appeal the sentences.
The teenager’s death sparked massive riots in cities across the country, lasting two weeks and causing extensive damage to state buildings, businesses and cars.
The Greek capital has since been beset by violent protests and multiple bombings against police stations, banks and state agencies by leftist and anarchist groups.
The violence has left one policeman dead and seven wounded, several seriously.
The trial was moved to Amfissa, located approximately 220 kilometers west of the Greek capital, out of fears that the case could lead to more rioting.
The judgement has brought great relief to the boy’s parents who say that even though they can not get their son back, their reputation has been restored.