Tuesday, October 12, 2010


INTERNATIONAL POLITICS GREECE:
ALEXIS' MURDERER GETS LIFE:
In December of 2008 the police killing of 15 year old Alexis Grigoropoulos set off a month of riots, strikes and occupations in that country. Despite the naive optimism of many across the world this rebellion hardly led to any change to the socio-economic system in Greece let alone in any other country. To say the least this was hardly unexpected. There is a great difference between rioting and building a new world.


Yet almost two years later discontent still simmers even if there is no coherent plan that has any wide support amongst the opposition to the "socialist" government and its austerity. In light of this discontent it was perhaps necessary for a conviction to be registered against the policeman who shot Grigoropoulos. Indeed this has happened as the following from the Occupied London Blog says, but the conviction may be less significant than it appears on the surface.


First of all the conviction came about with a split jury, only 4 out of 7 judges and jurors agreeing to convict the policeman of murder. The others felt that manslaughter would be more appropriate. Most importantly the conviction is still subject to appeal, a process that is likely to take years. By that time it is entirely possible that political pressures will not be as heated as they are now.


Besides what follows you can read more about this case from Kathimerini and the Associated Press.
AGAGAGAGAG

Both policemen murderers of Alexandros Grigoropoulos have been found guilty
A few minutes ago the court in the remote town of Amfissa reached a verdict for the two murderers of Alexandros; both have been found guilty. Korkoneas was actually found guilty for charges even heavier than the original (manslaughter with possible malice turned into manslaughter with direct malice). The course decided not to recognise any mitigating factors for Korkoneas.

Saraliotis, the second cop, was also found guilty for accomplice to the manslaughter. At this moment the court is deciding whether to recognise any mitigating factors for him.

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