Greek court sentences terrorists

Jerusalem Post ^ | Dec. 17, 2003 | ASSOCIATED PRESS

[yonif]

A Greek court handed down multiple life sentences Wednesday to the leader, chief assassin and three other November 17 terrorists, putting an end to a group that killed and bombed with impunity for 27 years.

An anti-terrorist tribunal sentenced Alexandros Giotopoulos, 59, the leader of the group, to 21 life terms. It also sentenced Dimitris Koufodinas, 45, the terror group's main hit man, to 13 life terms. Four other men that made up the core group of November 17 gunmen received sentences ranging from one to 10 life terms.

The decisions make parole virtually impossible for most of the men. Greece does not have the death penalty.

Greece's government has heralded the convictions as evidence of its commitment to fight terrorism ahead of the Aug. 13-29 Olympics.

The three-member court also gave another nine men lesser sentences as they were found guilty of less serious crimes.

The same court on Dec. 8 convicted the 15 men following a nine-month trial. Four defendants were acquitted because of lack of evidence.

November 17 is blamed for 23 murders and dozens of rockets and bomb attacks since 1975. The victims included four U.S. officials, two Turkish diplomats and a British defense attache.

None of its members had ever been apprehended until a botched bombing last year began a string of arrests.

The group - which professed a mix of Marxist and nationalist ideologies - was named after the date of a student-led uprising in 1973 which helped topple the 1967-74 military dictatorship.

Although police officials say some November 17 members remain at large, the government claims the group has been wiped out.

Giotopoulos, a French-born academic who lived under an alias in Greece for decades, sat impassively as presiding judge Michalis Margaritis read out the sentences. Giotopoulos has steadfastly denied any links to the group.

Also receiving multiple life sentences were the three sons of a Greek Orthodox priest.

One of the brothers, musical instrument maker Christodoulos Xiros, received 10 life sentences for his role in eight murders that included the 1988 killing of a U.S. Embassy defense attache.

Another brother, Savas Xiros _ whose injury in last year's bombing led to the group's breakup _ was sentenced to six terms of life imprisonment. The other brother, Vassilis, faces about 25 years after the judges consolidate the sentences.

In a letter sent to the media just before the sentencing, Savas, a religious icon painter, said he left his fate at the mercy of Jesus Christ.

"Now that the trial is over I can say I am distressed for every murder, for every tear, for every cry, for all the mourning I have caused," he said in the letter.

[contessa machiaveli]

greece is going to have to get its act together in time for the olympics. from what i've read it's a disaster waiting to happen.

americans should stay home(and be safe) and not funnel money into the terrorist-loving greek economy.

[KantianBurke]

Indeed. I recall reading that Greece is THE most anti-American country in Europe even surpassing France!