Petros Filippidis unleashed fierce "fire" against those who have accused or criticized him - from Katia Dandoulaki and Lena Drosaki to Spyros Bibilas, whom he even described as "the joke of Greek theater who became an MP" - today, continuing his defense before the Mixed Court of Appeals of Athens for the two attempted rapes against his female colleagues.
The actor, after denying the two charges he faces - citing consensual encounters with the complainants - turned against those he believes have stood against him and reiterated his position that the persecution against him is the result of organized actions by some to get him out of the theater!
In fact, the actor at one point had a strong outburst and, referring to the case of actress Eleni Papadaki, who was falsely accused of being a slanderer and had been dismissed from the Greek Theatre Company, he said: "These are the ones, the theater is yours. Take it."
In fact, the accused also read an excerpt from E. Papadaki's obituary that said: "You erased them from the stage and they erased you from life..." And continuing, he added: "These are... How much can I say... My life is being judged and I maintain my moral stance. Because I know everything. I know everything. Ask the complainants."
President: Calm down, Mr. Defendant...
Philippides: What should I calm down for? I've been living this life in prison for five years... I was an exile in my own home. Where should I go? What should I do? Let me put it the way I want. The money and the positions. Bibilas became an MP, if possible. The joke of Greek theater, an MP. That I loved and supported. He became an MP...
In fact, regarding Spyros Bibilas, the defendant said that as president of SEI, he invented the term "forced intercourse"!
At the same time, he also referred to another member of the SEI, Aris Laskos. “Should I talk about Mr. Laskos? Is he here?” he said loudly to the audience. And when the member of the SEI Board of Directors replied that he was in the room, the accused replied: “Come here in front.” It took the intervention of the president to calm the situation and allow the actor to continue answering the questions of the members of the bench.
"Lakis the Sweet, is that what characterizes me? Me who have played all of Aristophanes in Epidaurus?" Petros Filippidis said a little later and continued: "What can I tell you about Mrs. Dandoulaki? It's my fault that I didn't give her an acquittal then! She should be ashamed that she came here, testified for me and then sent me messages asking for cooperation?"
Referring to Lena Drosaki, the defendant emphasized: "Mrs. Drosaki came here with this bland tone and said 'I don't remember'. Testify as you please! These are the ones."
Earlier, Petros Filippidis had been called to answer the court's questions.
Indicatively, some of the questions he was asked and the answers he gave are as follows:
President: You're talking about a conspiracy, that it's set up by SEI...
Defendant: A lawyer came and told you that SEI's goal was to go to court, to testify as badly as possible...
President: Why you?
Defendant: Bibilas told you that the business had closed due to the coronavirus. The presidium of the SEI at that time wanted to expel certain people...
President: So the union at that time wanted to get you out of the way. For what reason?
Defendant: So that they could take the positions. So that they could take the theaters, the money, the jobs. And they got in. It may seem a little unworthy to you, but it's not.
President: And all of this was set up and organized? All of it?
Defendant: Yes, that's my position. Retaliatory. They didn't like us. I can't give you any other explanation. . . They're callous.
At this point, the accused referred to Anna Maria Papacharalambous and Penelope Anastasopoulou. "What can I say about Mrs. Papacharalambous... And Mrs. Anastasopoulou, who I had nothing romantic with and she comes out and writes 'life takes revenge slowly'."
President: These people are different from those who filed complaints. We have complaints from different people, light and heavy. Many complaints in the SEI as well. Why should all of them oppose you? They are simple actors. Do they all have to be heartless? A lot of people have banded together around you to get you out of the way and there are heavy complaints and this worries me…
Filippidis: You are asking me something that is self-evident. The stronger and more powerful the better. One denounces the forced intercourse invented by Bibilas. Mrs. Drosaki came to the first instance court and said that she had heard of attempted rape in 2018 and then said I was wrong.
President: I won't go into the details... I was just impressed by the number
Defendant: ...Let me take them one by one. As for Kimoulis, there was an actor who accused him on television of brutally beating her in the theater and when asked after years "were you together?", he replied "one at home, one at work" what do you want me to tell you? That we are crazy? And I'm including myself in it.
President: And one last question. It was heard here that the theater is a big bed. What is your position?
Filippidis: Theater is a place where people meet with their souls and bodies. We get married, we get divorced, we have sex in this sense, as Chaikalis said.
President: You describe it to us a bit romantically, but Mr. Chaikalis described it harshly and cynically...
Philippides: I didn't take it that way, maybe because I know him.
Concluding his defense, Petros Filippidis told judges and jurors that they were deciding his life or death.
In a statement he read to the audience, he said: "Not even in my worst nightmares did I expect this and it happened. Don't throw me in the trash just to be done with. Remember the human condition, you are judging my life or death. Think about it if they gave you a gun and told you to pull the trigger, would you pull it? Your signature or vote could be the bullet that ends me."
The trial is expected to continue today with the district attorney's speech on the defendant's guilt or innocence.
Source: protothema.gr
