Dialogos

Trial Continues for Criminal Prosecutions Against the Family of Thanasis Nikolaou – Preliminary Objections and Tension in Court

Published March 13, 2026, 17:00
Trial Continues for Criminal Prosecutions Against the Family of Thanasis Nikolaou – Preliminary Objections and Tension in Court

The judicial process regarding the private criminal prosecutions of the Thanasis Nikolaou family continued with preliminary objections from the defense lawyers. The proceedings are expected to resume on March 19th. During the session, lawyer Savvas Matsas, who is withdrawing from the family's defense due to a possible testimony as a witness, stated that he received a police report regarding threats to his life. The defense challenged the validity of the report, accusing Mr. Matsas of attempting to mislead the court and requesting an investigation for contempt. The new lawyer for the Nikolaou family, Christos Kliridis, argued that the defendants should first be charged and respond before the preliminary objections are raised. The court insisted on the need to proceed with the process and called on the defense to proceed with arguments regarding the objections. The preliminary objections concern issues such as fair trial, non-disclosure of evidence, and the filing of the indictment by Savvas Matsas, who had served as an independent criminal investigator in the Nikolaou case. The process was delayed due to the length of the arguments, resulting in a new date for continuation on March 19th. Overall, the session was characterized by strong reactions and disagreements between legal representatives, while the court attempted to speed up the process and ensure the smooth progress of the case.