Petros Filippidis, the actor standing trial on serious charges, was notably absent from the courtroom as proceedings continue and approach their final stages. The defendant remains hopeful for an acquittal. His lawyer, Michalis Dimitrakopoulos, explained that Filippidis chose not to attend the trial because he believed the process would be emotionally unbearable, particularly in light of what he considers false accusations.
Dimitrakopoulos stated before the trial began: “There is no health issue involved. Petros Filippidis respects the institutional role of the prosecutors, but for him, it’s tormenting to listen to these lies against him. That’s the only reason he’s not here—nothing else. His health is perfectly fine.”
The defense attorney also expressed optimism regarding the presiding prosecutor, noting over 25 years of experience in criminal trials—significantly more than regular judges who handle various legal fields such as property or inheritance law. He emphasized that the prosecutor had strong doubts about whether Filippidis committed the alleged attempted rapes. Dimitrakopoulos reiterated a fundamental principle of criminal law: even the slightest doubt should lead to the accused being acquitted, stating, ‘It’s better to let ten guilty people go free than to convict one innocent person.’
He concluded by pointing out the lack of objective evidence in the case: ‘These are just two narratives, two testimonies from women making allegations, which are repeated with many contradictions by friends and relatives. There is absolutely no objective proof.’
Dimitrakopoulos criticized attempts to frame the trial as a matter of social movements like #MeToo, warning that doing so undermines the rule of law. ‘If we abandon due process and proper evidence-based procedures in favor of a movement that wants people convicted based solely on accusation, then the entire legal system collapses,’ he said.