Dimitris Lignadis, the former artistic director of the National Theater, was found guilty—by a majority vote—of two counts of rape, by a ruling of the Athens Mixed Jury Court.
After a deliberation lasting approximately 3 hours, the court announced its verdict on Wednesday at noon regarding the accused actor and director, who was on trial for a total of four cases of rape involving minors and young men.
On the contrary, the court acquitted the defendant—by a majority vote—due to reasonable doubt regarding the case of the first complainant, and unanimously regarding the case of the third complainant, who, although he had filed a complaint against him for rape, did not appear in court to support his allegation. The proceedings continue, with Lignadis’s defense team filing a motion for mitigating circumstances.
The presiding prosecutor proposed that both mitigating factors requested by Dimitris Lignadis be rejected.
Specifically, the defendant requested that the mitigating factors of his previous law-abiding life and subsequent good conduct be taken into account.
According to the recommendation of Prosecutor Konstantinos Kountrias:
«Based on the evidence presented and taking into account the defendant’s statement, I find that there are no mitigating circumstances in the defendant’s case.».
For his part, the defendant’s defense attorney, Alexis Kougias, emphasized in a forceful tone:
«It’s a disgrace that the prosecutor hasn’t listened to the evidence presented in court and what I said about Dimitris Lignadis’s character.».
«Child rape is a disgrace,» retorted a woman who was standing right outside the courtroom.
A large crowd had gathered outside the courtroom, including Members of Parliament Kriton Arsenis, Sia Anagnostopoulou, Kleon Grigoriadis, and others.
