Three years after the traffic accident at the entrance of the Parliament, on Vasilissa Sofia, with the victim 23-year-old Jason Lalaounis, the trial of the police officer, driver of the official car of MP Doras Bakoyannis, who turned left to enter the courtyard of the Voulis hit the 23-year-old motorcyclist who was riding green on the avenue.
The case has been adjourned three times.
The policeman accused of manslaughter is present in court, and through his lawyer he expressed his sorrow for the loss of Iason. The victim’s family and citizens who sympathize with them have also been present.
The victim’s family, parents and siblings, declared a representation in Support of the Class with the claim of monetary satisfaction due to mental anguish. Mr. Pantelis Lalaounis, Jason’s father, stated in his testimony in court that there was “defiantly criminal driving behavior by the defendant that led to the death of my son and my family.” He also said that his son had been riding a motorcycle for three years and was very careful, always wearing a helmet. “We were together last night. Jokingly, he had told me “stop working, I’m here”. And the other day…” the father said, devastated. Referring to the accused, Mr. Lalaounis said that he displayed provocative behavior without being interested in the victim at all: “He did not come next to my son, he did not contact us. The passenger came to the hospital…”
The victim’s sister, Aikaterini-Sofia Lalaouni testified that the defendant had “unacceptable behavior” and that he falsely states that he provided first aid to the victim “while leaving him on the asphalt… He has destroyed a family. Jason lost his dreams. Jason, on Wednesday, would have turned 26… He continues his life and we lost everything…”
Jason’s mother’s statement to reporters:
The co-driver of the vehicle, Nikitas Mavroyiannis, testified that on the day in question they moved “as always, to enter the Parliament” turning left, at the descent of Vasilissa Sofia. He also said that the machine made an illegal right-hand pass on a taxi that stopped for the official to enter the Parliament yard, which they neither saw nor could foresee. “A taxi gave us priority to pass, we didn’t start, and motioned for us to pass. There is always a traffic warden outside the Parliament. If necessary, a traffic warden also comes out,” said the witness and described: “We checked several times and started the march to the entrance of the Parliament. We were going with 5 kilometers. When the first two wheels hit the pavement, we were jolted by a very strong crash. We didn’t know what hit us, I hit my head on the windshield. We got out and went towards the motorcyclist. A gentleman declared himself a rescuer, and we made room so that many would not crowd over Jason. I called an ambulance. They told us to move the vehicle and I called my service. Then we sat aside for the ambulance to come. He hit us in the back of the car, at the traffic light…”.
Chairman: Are there arrows that do not allow this course?
Witness: Along the length of B. Sofia there are signs prohibiting turning left. There is no such sign there.
President: Were there arrows on the asphalt indicating a mandatory straight line?
Witness: Maybe there are but there is no sign prohibiting it. We have always entered this way for so many years. There is a traffic warden and whenever he deems it appropriate, he comes out to make an adjustment. That day he was on the sidewalk, not making an adjustment.
President: Didn’t you notice the machine?
Witness: We didn’t notice the machine at all. No matter how hard I looked, there was no engine to be seen, and we could not foresee that there was an engine that would do such an overtaking. In the afternoon I went to the hospital, after giving a statement. In the following days I couldn’t understand how the traffic accident happened, we saw the video that he was overtaking from the right, but the bottom line is that he has seen us from 60 meters and is not slowing down, he has simply made a mistake in the line he has taken. He thinks the vehicle will go smoothly inside, but the vehicle eventually brakes to get onto the curb.
Prosecutor: Do you think you had the right to turn left?
Witness: Yes. Because there was no sign.
Prosecutor: Another thing that was done and another thing that was allowed… Here there were markings for a mandatory straight path. You are a police officer, do you think you had a right?
Witness: Yes.
Prosecutor: How many years have you been a police officer?
Witness: Since 2009.
Prosecutor: Then you didn’t have to check? Phase out?
Witness: Yes. So we went.
Prosecutor: But you wouldn’t have seen him?
Witness: It was a one-way street. We didn’t see any vehicle overtaking on the left, we couldn’t see on the right. I believe we came out progressively.
Paredros: What does this line mean, and let there be no sign. Because you swore to tell the truth…
Witness: Compulsory course means.
Paredros: Because it is done by way of derogation, you say, that makes it legal? With these data, is the motorcyclist considered solely responsible for the death? Do you think you are not responsible for anything? No driver negligence?
Witness: Obviously something has gone wrong. That the driver of the car can’t do anything different… he couldn’t do anything else. He gave priority to the taxi and we couldn’t see the illegals. The opposite current has stopped.
Paredros: If I were driving and made this move in B. Sofias, wouldn’t I have a big penalty? Do you think policeman I would have a license today?
Witness: All these years this has been happening…
Paredros: I don’t know what they are doing, I don’t follow it. However, there is another entrance.
The trial continues
