Greek court nixes neo-Nazi party leniency plea

A Greek court Monday rejected a request for leniency for the leader of notorious Greek neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn and his top aides, who were convicted last week at the end of a landmark five-year trial. The court refused to consider mitigating factors when sentencing party founder and long-term leader Nikos Michaloliakos and six other former party lawmakers for crimes that include running a criminal organization. However, the announcement of the sentencing that had been expected Tuesday will be delayed after one of the defendants—independent Eurodeputy Ioannis Lagos—asked for the panel of three judges to be replaced. Dozens of Communist protesters gathered outside the court near central Athens on Monday, demanding harsh sentences for the “Nazi criminals.” After over five years of hearings, the panel of three judges on Wednesday unanimously labeled the paramilitary party a criminal organization in the trial described as one of the most important in Greece’s political history. More than 50 defendants were convicted of crimes ranging from running a criminal organization, murder and assault to illegal weapons possession. As a result, Michaloliakos and six others including Lagos, deputy leader Christos Pappas and former party spokesman Ilias Kassidiaris will receive sentences of up to 15 years, a court source said. Key crimes carried out by Golden Dawn are the 2013 murder of anti-fascist rapper Pavlos Fyssas and the beating of Egyptian fishermen in 2012 and communist trade unionists in 2013, the court established on Wednesday.

via manilastandard: Greek court nixes neo-Nazi party leniency plea