Greek terror suspects made killing ‘their job'

AP ^ | September 16, 2003

[Tailgunner Joe]

Members of Greece's bloodiest terrorist cell made murder "their job" as they outwitted authorities for more than a generation, a lawyer for the families US and British victims said Monday. The trial of 19 suspected November 17 members moved into a new phase with summations by attorneys for families of victims whose slaying is blamed on the group. Civil and criminal proceedings can run parallel in Greek courts.

Ilias Anagnostopoulos, representing the families of American and British victims, said for three decades the November 17 "gang" caused havoc with armed robberies, explosions and assassinations of "unsuspecting victims."

"They existed, lived and breathed murder," he said. "Murder was their daily life, their job."

More than 50 lawyers are expected to speak up for families. The trial, which began in March, is expected to run into next month.

Anagnostopoulos is representing several American families including those of US defence attache William Nordeen, who was killed in 1988, and US Air Force Sgt. Ronald Stewart, slain in 1991.

He also represents the family of British defense attache Stephen Saunders, who was assassinated in 2000 and was the last known victim of the Marxist-nationalist group.

November 17 is blamed for armed robbery, scores of bombings and 23 slayings, dating back to the 1975 killing of CIA Station chief Richard Welch.

But no one can stand trial for the murder of Welch and five others, including an American official and four Greeks, because of Greece's 20-year statute of limitations.

[longtermmemmory]

sadly they did not get them all. There are others floating around.

It was missed that many of the 19 were immediate family.

[VOA]

"They existed, lived and breathed murder," he said.
"Murder was their daily life, their job."

I may be wrong...but isn't it widely believed that at least on of the leaders
of the group was a university professor at a Greek university?