The Tempi train disaster trial is continuing Wednesday in Larissa amid repeated interruptions, verbal outbursts and clashes inside the courtroom, as proceedings move forward slowly through procedural steps.

The session began with a 30-minute delay in a tense atmosphere, with early disputes between lawyers, victims’ families and the bench disrupting the process almost immediately.

The court said the trial will resume on Monday, April 6, the start of Holy Week, after considering a request for audiovisual coverage. Judges approved full audio recording of the proceedings and are still weighing whether to allow video.

Despite the disruptions, the process is continuing in stages, with victims’ relatives appearing in groups to formally declare their participation in support of the charges.

Trial for the Tempi train accident, `Geopolis` conference center, Larissa, April 1, 2026 (SOOC)

Disputes and Interruptions Persist

Proceedings have been repeatedly interrupted as tensions inside the courtroom remain high.

At one point, Nikos Plakias, who lost his twin daughters and niece in the disaster, shouted, “You should all go to prison,” prompting applause before the presiding judge intervened.

Clashes have also emerged between lawyers and the bench. Zoe Konstantopoulou has repeatedly challenged the procedure, raising objections and attempting to move toward the front of the courtroom to reach her client. Police officers prevented her from doing so. “Let me go to my client,” she said.

Zoe Konstantopoulou at the trial for the Tempi train accident, `Geopolis` conference center, Larissa, April 1, 2026. (SOOC)

Other lawyers intervened, arguing that counsel should not be obstructed. Additional disputes have arisen over seating arrangements and the handling of legal authorizations.

Konstantopoulou has also submitted a request for the trial to be recorded and broadcast, despite the court’s ban on televised coverage.

Families Raise Objections

Victims’ families have continued to voice objections throughout the session, focusing on access restrictions and conditions inside the courtroom.

Maria Karystianou addressed the court, saying, “Today would have been my daughter’s birthday.”

Maria Karystianou entering the courtroom where the trial for the Tempi train accidents will take place. Larissa, April 1, 2026.

She and Konstantopoulou later stated that they do not consent to the procedure, while Karystianou also criticized the handling of the trial.

Other relatives have raised concerns about being separated from the main courtroom or required to follow proceedings from auxiliary spaces. Panos Routsis said all families should be present and treated with respect.

At one point, Routsis was taken to the medical unit after feeling unwell and was later transported to a nearby hospital by ambulance.

Families Describe Lasting Impact of Disaster

Statements from victims’ relatives during the session underscored both the long-term impact of the disaster and ongoing concerns about how the trial is being conducted.

The father of the sole survivor from the first carriage described his son’s condition in stark terms. “Gerasimos is living in darkness, unjustly,” he said, adding that other survivors continue to undergo repeated surgeries or face lasting psychological trauma.

Nikos Zisis, the husband of a victim, asked to move closer to the front of the courtroom so he could see the defendants. “Can I come forward? I want to see the people who left my child without a parent,” he said.

Antonis Psaropoulos, who lost his daughter and is also representing other families as a lawyer, spoke about balancing both roles during the trial. “This is the fight of my life — to find the truth, for my daughter and for the other victims,” he said.

Attention also turned to conditions inside the courtroom. Pavlos Aslanidis, who lost his 26-year-old son Dimitris in the disaster and heads the Association of Victims’ Families, said relatives had been placed in the back rows while police officers were positioned near the benches.

The mother of victim Afroditi Tsioma addressed the court, accusing those responsible of having “killed, burned and discarded” the victims, and called for a fair trial.

A lawyer told the court that the first group of 100 relatives appearing in the proceedings were seeking answers and accountability. “All these people are looking for the truth,” he said.

Proceedings Move Forward in Stages

Despite the disruptions, the court continues with procedural steps related to the legal representation of defendants and the formal participation of victims’ relatives.

The prosecution has accepted that absent defendants may be represented by their lawyers. Relatives are appearing in groups to formally declare their participation in support of the charges.

The case involves 36 defendants, including Greek and foreign nationals, facing a range of different charges.

Medical Incident and Conflicting Accounts

Earlier in the session, Panos Ruci was taken to the medical unit after feeling unwell and was later transported by ambulance.

He has since been discharged from the University Hospital of Larissa and said he had experienced high blood pressure.

Konstantopoulou claimed he had been subjected to excessive force by police and suffered a cardiac episode and hypertension. Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis said hospital data indicated symptoms of anxiety and that there was no evidence he had been assaulted.

Security Measures and Ongoing Concerns

Outside the courtroom earlier in the day, long lines had formed as police enforced strict identity checks and controlled entry. Access remains limited, with only a set number of relatives allowed inside at a time, while others and non-accredited journalists are directed to auxiliary rooms. Cameras and photojournalists have been barred from the courtroom.

Inside, the space has been rearranged following the disruptions on the first day. Seating has been expanded and the layout adjusted, including structural changes to create additional room. Even so, concerns persist over visibility, access and whether the venue is suitable for a trial of this scale.

Police officers remain stationed throughout the venue, including near the bench and behind the defendants, separating them from victims’ relatives. Entry continues to be tightly controlled, with identification required for all attendees.

Additional rooms equipped with screens are being used to accommodate overflow.

Despite these measures, criticism continues from both lawyers and families, who argue that the conditions remain inadequate for a trial of such importance.