Reactions are intensifying after the prosecutor’s proposal to declare Elias Mihos not guilty due to doubts on the charges of rape and pimping with the girl from Kolonos as a victim when she was at the tender age of 12.
The prosecution’s proposal comes after a flurry of revelations about the case that resulted in a total of 25 people, including the child’s mother and Mihos, being put on the stand.
Given that the trial is being held behind closed doors, both the evidentiary procedure and the rationale on which the prosecutor based her proposal are not known.
However, as pointed out by legal circles, there are specific conditions for the legal classification of rape and for the charge of pimping. It is therefore considered that the hearing did not prove beyond reasonable doubt that the specific charges, which even carry a life sentence, were proven. In particular, as regards the pimping charge, it was reportedly not proven that Mihos was forcing the girl into prostitution in order to secure financial gain.
In fact, according to reports, a number of messages between Mihos and the child, as well as from the mother to Mihos, have reportedly been taken into account.
An important element, too, is the prosecution’s judgment that the child’s pimp is the mother.
It is recalled, however, that Mihos himself, in his apology, had admitted to having sexual intercourse with the child, which is unthinkable to accept that at 12 years of age he has the judgment to consent to sexual intercourse – let alone with someone forty years older than himself.
Images from the protests:
However, the same circles pointed out that the prosecutor’s proposal does not constitute a decision for the Mixed Jury Court (judges and jurors are participating) and the process is still a long way off, as the advocates’ speeches start tomorrow.
The prosecutor’s proposal, however, carries a sentence of imprisonment for Mihos, but it “breaks” the life sentence.
All these facts are causing increasing reactions that are manifested both on social media and with protest rallies – yesterday and today in Athens, today in Thessaloniki – but even in parliament, where there was a confrontation between Justice Minister George Florides and the opposition.
It started with a head-on clash between Justice Minister George Florides and MPs from SYRIZA and New Left, both on the case of the 12-year-old girl, and on the Novartis plot and SYRIZA’s Criminal Codes.
KKE and Pleisi Eleftherias condemned the prosecutor’s proposal, followed by a new round of arguments between Mr Florides and Kyriakos Velopoulos.
However, the same circles pointed out that the prosecutor’s proposal does not constitute a decision for the Mixed Jury Court (judges and jurors participate) while the process is still a long way off, since tomorrow the advocates’ speeches will start.
The prosecutor’s proposal, however, carries a sentence of imprisonment for Mihos, but it “breaks” the life sentence.
All these facts are causing increasing reactions that are manifested both on social media and with protest rallies – yesterday and today in Athens, today in Thessaloniki – but even in parliament, where there was a confrontation between Justice Minister George Florides and the opposition.
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It started with a head-on clash between Justice Minister George Florides and MPs from SYRIZA and New Left, both on the case of the 12-year-old girl, and on the Novartis plot and SYRIZA’s Criminal Codes.
KKE and Pleisi Eleftherias condemned the prosecutor’s proposal, followed by a new round of arguments between Mr Florides and Kyriakos Velopoulos.
In all cases, the Minister of Justice reminded that the trial is held behind closed doors and that the basic respect for the judicial process requires that we wait until the court decision is issued.
At the same time, he noted that the sentence for rape of minors can reach life imprisonment, while he noted that the attempted rape case went to 20 years from 8 years.
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