Trial for deadly 2018 Mati blaze to start Oct 31
The trial for the 21 defendants implicated in a devastating wildfire at Mati, East Attica, in July 2018 that claimed the lives of 103 people, has been set for October 31, more than four years after the tragedy.
The defendants, who include the man who caused the fire, former Attica regional governor Rena Dourou, regional mayors and officials, as well as civil protection, fire service and police officials, are to be tried for the offenses of manslaughter and bodily harm through negligence and/or dereliction of duty – all misdemeanors.
The trial is expected to last a long time due to the large number of defendants and witnesses.
In late June, the Athens Appeals Council decided to send the defendants to the dock for misdemeanor offenses, in line with the appeal filed by an appeals prosecutor against the verdict issued by the plenary council that sought the upgrading of the charge against five former fire service officers to that of a felony.
