"My name is Petros Filippidis and I am a director, actor and translator. I am no longer me. I am what is left of him," said Petros Filippidis today, beginning his defense at the Mixed Jury Court of Appeals in Athens, who has been on trial for months for two attempted rapes against his female colleagues.
"I am a person who has made mistakes and has flaws. But I have never committed a crime, I have never raped, I have never attempted to rape, I have never wanted to harm anyone. I had the passion for love as my flag. I may have been selfish but not egotistical. A lot has been heard about me and even the stones have spoken about my character. Even people who don't know me," said Petros Filippidis, continuing: "I may have been arrogant, yes. Right now I am in a sea and no one is diving to save me. I have to come to the surface on my own. I was selfish, I was arrogant but everything has swelled up for me to such an extent... The wave is big."
Continuing, the actor said: "When I said organized attack, that's not what you understood. I don't have that much of an idea about myself."
President: But have you claimed that?
Philippidis: This trial for me is also taking place outside of here and very few people supported me. As time goes by, things change and people are freed. Mouths are slowly opening and they are opening in my favor. The climate has changed in the world, it has changed completely, but it has not changed in the media. And it has not changed because evil sells."
President: That is true….
Philippides: I may have expressed things incorrectly and I take responsibility.
A little later, the defendant noted: "In peacetime, everything is fine. But in a war, everything changes. And the pandemic was a war. Spyros Bibilas had said that if it hadn't been for the pandemic, the complaints wouldn't have been made. A war had begun. And the issue was change in the theater."
President: What do you mean, change the tone in the theater or condemn certain behaviors?
Philippidis: Both… I am with #metoo but that doesn't mean that everything is metoo. I am with women, I love them but who will believe me. Let's get back to the war. And various allies entered this war. Metoo should be for the whole world and not for all women, I am against discrimination. And indeed women are more vulnerable but on the other hand, all people must be protected. But where was my own presumption of innocence protected? I, who am unemployed now and have nothing to do with my life…
I even heard them say that I had a luxurious trial. I want it to end. I am ready and prepared for everything. I have spoken to my family. I lived in great glory with a lot of money. Today I am a lazy person, an unemployed person and we live because Elpida works. We don't even have a car. Today there is nothing. But I lived next to great people. Next to Koun, Theodorakis, Manos. I could not be a rapist. These people had morals," the actor said, adding: "I was unfaithful. This unfaithfulness is like me and Spaliaras having gone with all of Greece."
Petros Filippidis also apologized: "I apologize if I hurt someone unintentionally. But to apologize for attempted rape? I haven't committed it. How can I apologize?"
A little later the accused said: "I hope I don't have the end of Socrates. I want you to listen and judge me fairly."
Before the start of his defense, Petros Filippidis approached the judge for whom he had requested an exception and whispered something to her. She was heard to respond: "Thank you, be well."
With the start of the trial, Petros Filippidis's lawyer returned to the issue of the investigation into the first complainant's mobile phone, saying that the Hellenic Police's Criminal Investigation Department needs time to proceed with the investigation. For this reason, the lawyer requested that the trial be adjourned for a few months. "The request is currently rejected," the president replied.
Source: protothema.gr
