Andrew Symeou trial fiasco, though bail welcome (Enfield Liberal Democrats)

Enfield Liberal Democrats <info@enfieldlibdems.org.uk>

Andrew Symeou trial fiasco, though bail welcome

June 4, 2010 5:00 PM
Originally published by Sarah Ludford MEP

Andrew Symeou, a Londoner who has been held in prison in Greece while awaiting trial for almost a year on a charge of manslaughter of another young Briton in a nightclub, has been released on bail but only after a farcical disarray over the trial. Andrew asserts his innocence as he was not even in the club at the time and believes that he is the victim of mistaken identity.

Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford commented:

"The Greek court's decision to release my constituent Andrew Symeou on bail comes not a moment too soon. He should have been granted bail immediately when he was extradited from the UK to Greece in July 2009, and yet Greek authorities refused again and again on the discriminatory and unjust basis that Andrew was a foreigner. He has been kept in harsh conditions in a prison condemned by Amnesty International."

"Andrew's case has from the very start been riddled with human rights breaches, allegations of lost and fabricated evidence and police brutality. But the gross incompetence whereby the trial today has collapsed because the Greek authorities failed to transmit summons to prosecution witnesses almost beggars belief. It adds insult to the injury of Andrew's and his family's suffering."

"His ordeal must come to an end through a formal dismissal of the case - and the EU needs to reform laws and practices so that this tragic farce never happens again."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. Andrew Symeou's trial was scheduled to start today, Friday 4 June, but was adjourned because the prosecution witnesses from the UK failed to appear in court, due to the court's failure to respond to requests for more information from the Greek Foreign ministry before transmission of summons.

2. Andrew was extradited to Greece in July 2009 under a European Arrest Warrant, and has been kept in a Greek prison ever since. Greek authorities have twice refused him bail.