Exarcheia shortly after 9 pm. A group of young people had a verbal confrontation with the special guard Epamineondas Korkoneas and his colleague, Vassilis Saraliotis.
The two special guards were ordered to leave the spot, but then, for no apparent reason, they returned on foot to Tzavela Street, where the group of young people was.
Among them were 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos and his peer, Nikos Romanos, who later occupied the authorities for his anarchist activity and for the armed robbery in Velvento, Kozani. The verbal confrontation continued for a while, until Korkoneas pulled out his service revolver and fired three shots. One of the bullets found Alexandros Grigoropoulos. He was taken to "Evangelismos" hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Immediately, the two special guards informed about the incident, stating, among other things, that they were attacked by a group of young people, with bottles and stones. Police later spoke of the shooting that killed the 15-year-old. The two special guards were arrested and made available. In their testimony, they reported that Korkoneas fired twice in the air and once on the ground, which was denied by eyewitnesses, who testified that the special guard fired directly at the young men.
The assassination of Grigoropoulos provoked political and social developments. The interior minister submitted his resignation, stating that the guilty will be punished and that this is an isolated incident. The Prime Minister, Costas Karamanlis did not accept it. In the streets, from the very next day, there was a huge upheaval, a youthful wave of support for the undefeated Grigoropoulos, who denounced the police violence. The tension and unrest were unprecedented, with the newspaper "Kathimerini" stating that these are the "worst since the restoration of democracy in 1974".
In many cities of the country and especially in Athens, protests were held by pupils, students and citizens. The marches were episodic, causing massive damage to public buildings, shops, cars and monuments. It is estimated that the damage reached 50 million euros, in Athens alone.
On December 10, the two special guards were remanded in custody. The intense climate had given tension to the case as well. About a week later, the ballistics test came out, according to which there are "elements perfectly compatible with the impact of the projectile on a hard - unyielding surface with its side part and then its detachment from this surface". On January 14, experts admitted that the bullets were fired, which was not accepted by the technical advisers of the Grigoropoulos family.
On August 24, the case was referred to the Joint Jury. Following changes in the location of the trial, which was originally scheduled in Chalkida but eventually took place in Amfissa, the hearing began on January 20, 2010. It lasted 10 months and took 84 hearings for the court to issue its decision. Eventually, the court found the two special guards guilty, with Korkoneas sentenced to life in prison for direct manslaughter and Saraliotis to ten years for conspiracy. The latter was released after a year on restrictive conditions.
The Mixed Jury Court of Appeal of Lamia found Korkoneas guilty in July 2019, but acknowledging the mitigation of his previous legal life. The sentence was 13 years. The decision marked the immediate release of Korkoneas, as he had already served a real sentence of 10 years and has also worked part-time in prison, which were counted beneficially. Saraliotis was acquitted due to doubts. From 2020, the case is being re-examined by the Supreme Court, which will decide whether Korkoneas will be imprisoned or not.
The incident of December 6, 2008, caused global emotion and indignation, with many people in various cities and outside Greece, demonstrating their solidarity and support. Every year on the same day, wreaths are laid in Exarchia, with the street being renamed from Messolonghi to "Alexandrou Grigoropoulos Street", by the residents and professionals of the area.
Source: edaily