Trial for a traffic accident in the Parliament: The police driver was sentenced to three years suspended for the death of Iason

The three-member Criminal Court of Athens found the police driver guilty of manslaughter

The three-member criminal court of Athens found the driver-police officer of Dora Bakoyannis’ official vehicle guilty of manslaughter for the fatal car accident in the Parliament that cost the life of 23-year-old Jason Lalaounis, who was abandoned on the asphalt on March 12, 2021.

The Three-member Misdemeanor Court adopted the prosecution’s proposal that requested the defendant’s guilt, imposing a three-year suspended sentence. He was not given any mitigating circumstances, as suggested by the district attorney, who rejected the previous cohabitation, noting that the hearing showed that the defendant did not exhibit lawful behavior, in violation of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

In the opinion of the prosecutor, the victim was also complicit in the accident that took his life, as he was exceeding the speed limit, but the defendant, with his driving behavior, has the greatest percentage of negligence that led to Jason’s death. “There is complicity on the part of the deceased, which is taken into account in measuring the sentence of the accused. But the greater percentage of negligence is borne by the defendant, who violated the KOK by making a prohibited turn at the spot,” he said. “The victim was unable to maneuver and fell into the vehicle driven by the accused,” he added.

The prosecutor emphasized that while there was a legal way for the vehicle to enter the courtyard of the Parliament, i.e. through the Academy, the police officer chose this route acting recklessly. “Yes, but he would lose three minutes. And for three minutes he killed my child.” Jason’s father was heard commenting from his place in the audience.

In his apology, the police officer expressed his regret “that a young man left without a reason”, saying – among other things – “I wish I had contacted his family earlier”.