Only one of the defendants, Michalis Nikolopoulos, appeared in the courtroom, as he is the only one who still isn’t on hunger strike.
The presiding judge first read the statements of the three hunger striking defendants (Damiano Bolano, Giorgos Nikolopoulos, and Christos Tsakalos), in which they explained that they weren’t going to attend the trial and they asked for a postponement of the judicial proceedings. Defense attorney Frangiskos Ragousis then also requested a brief postponement. Presiding judge H. Vriniotis became furious, repeating again and again that “the trial can continue even if the defendants are absent,” etc.
Comrade Michalis Nikolopoulos then spoke, on the one hand requesting a postponement of the trial and on the other threatening Vriniotis by saying: “Don’t even think about continuing this trial without the presence of my three comrades.”
Prosecutor Liakopoulos had no objections and proposed that the trial be postponed. The next session is scheduled for May 11.