To find the coach guilty of rape and indecent abuse of a minor against the sailing athlete, now 22, who reported him when she was 12, the Joint Jury asked Court of Appeal of Athens, the district attorney.
“The victim, referring to the acts of love, spoke of threats, as she understood them at the time, that her parents would be retaliated against and others and because of these she was pressured into carrying out the acts of love. The defendant denies this. However, it is recorded in his apology that he said “I made a mistake and I should have waited and he wanted it”. He said that and changed the subject. The saying “latent language tells the truth” applies here. In his opinion, he may have believed that no matter what happened, he would be covered by the marriage,” the prosecutor said and continued:
“This gives me the impression that rape is indirectly confirmed. She used coercive means – there was a 16-year difference in experience – and she considered these acts non-coercive. Romantic self-determination cannot exist, because we must protect the individual himself. There were conversations by the accused that in the juvenile mind worked to force her to these actions.”
The prosecutor appeared adamant that the accused committed his actions, “but he is not a monster.”
“The victim was brainwashed by her mother for being raped”
Earlier in his apology, the defendant mentioned that he truly loved the 11-year-old girl and that the victim was brainwashed by her mother into being raped.
“I made a mistake and somehow I have to atone. It’s scary, extreme, indecent. Prison is a great school… the accusation, the slander is like a stone on the head. When I was accused, I received thousands of stones from the TV judges , from the journalists, who raped my very soul. When everyone is blaming you, the best thing you can do is turn your back and go on your way.
The reason I appeared on TV was so the girl would see me. I had the feeling that in the first trial he would break, because he can’t turn all these memories into rape. It’s a shame that you exchanged the first love of your life for rape…”, said the defendant in his apology.
President: For a man who shows us so much love here, for (girl’s name) to tell you at 14 years old “I don’t want you anymore”, didn’t that make you feel angry?
Defendant: These are scoundrels. I’m very proud. Of course I was hurting inside.
Prosecutor: You were 29 years old, weren’t you suspended?
Defendant: If I had, I wouldn’t be here. I got sucked into it. I didn’t care that I was a coach. I intended marriage. There was huge traction. I justified myself, because the sin would be erased, the restoration of this act would come with marriage.
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