Theodorakis Appeals Against Convictions

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31584, 23 January 1968, Page 12

Theodorakis Appeals Against Convictions

(N.Z.P.A-Reuter —Copyright) ATHENS, Jan. 22. The Greek composer, M i k i s Theodorakis, who wrote the music for the film “Zorba the Greek,” faced a packed courtroom here today to appeal against convictions and prison sentences imposed on him by the Greek military regime. He told reporters who milled around him before the hearing that on one occasion he had gone on a hunger strike in prison, and had lapsed into a coma. It was the 42-year-old composer’s first appearance in public since he was imprisoned last August on charges of plotting to overthrow the regime. He stood in the Athens Appeal Court before three civilian judges, watched from the public gallery by his wife, Myrto, and 72-year-old father. Mr Theodorakis, who appeared in good spirits when he entered the courtroom, was appealing against three convictions of insulting the authorities. They were imposed in his absence, while he was already in prison on the plotting charges. They involved terms of more than six months each, and this disqualified the composer from an amnesty for political offenders announced at Christmas by the Prime Minister (Mr George Papadopoulos). The prosecution today asked for the appeals to be dismissed because Theodorakis had not filed them within the legal time limit. But the composer’s lawyer said the convictions had been imposed while the composer

was in prison, and he had been unaware of them at the time. As soon as he knew he had been convicted, he had filed his appeals.

After an hour’s adjournment, the judges said they had decided to allow the appeal. The hearing continues.