Rumors That Trial of Golden Dawn MPs To Begin in November

The trial of the leaders of extreme right party Golden Dawn is apparently going to begin sometime in mid-November, sources close to Greece's judicial authorities hinted to several Greek media agencies. Authorities want the trial to begin before the maximum mandatory pre-trial detention period (18 months) expires (or basically by the end of the current year).

The main dilemma at the moment, said the newspaper, is locating a big enough courtroom so as to accommodate all the suspects in the case.

Magistrates Ioanna Klapa and Maria Dimitropoulou completed the investigation last week and quickly forwarded the case to prosecutor Isidiros Dogiakos. He is now obligated to examine the case before making his proposal to a council of appeal court judges. On their part, the judges will have to decide what charges the suspects, including 18 MPs elected to represent Golden Dawn in Parliament, will face in court.

The case file includes more than 200 statements from witnesses, some of whom have been placed under protection.

It should be noted that a total 78 Golden Dawn members were investigated, with 30 of them currently detained, including 18 MPs and the leadership of the ultra-right party. The criminal investigation was prompted after the cold-blooded murder of activist and rap musician Pavlos Fyssas by a self-declared member of the Golden Dawn party -who was once a formal member of the Greek Communist Party- George Roupakias.

Sources: Kathimerini/iefimerida