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| Athens police deny youth murder | Athens police deny youth murder |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Two policemen have pleaded innocent at a trial aimed at determining the true facts behind a shooting that sparked major riots in Greece in 2008. | Two policemen have pleaded innocent at a trial aimed at determining the true facts behind a shooting that sparked major riots in Greece in 2008. |
| One policeman is accused of murdering a 15-year-old schoolboy, Alexandros Grigoropoulos, and his colleague is accused of complicity. | One policeman is accused of murdering a 15-year-old schoolboy, Alexandros Grigoropoulos, and his colleague is accused of complicity. |
| The trial was moved from Athens to deter attacks by anarchist groups who have vowed to kill the two defendants. | The trial was moved from Athens to deter attacks by anarchist groups who have vowed to kill the two defendants. |
| One policeman fired a warning shot that ricocheted fatally, the defence says. | One policeman fired a warning shot that ricocheted fatally, the defence says. |
| The trial is being held in Amfissa, a small town nearly 200km (120 miles) west of Athens. | The trial is being held in Amfissa, a small town nearly 200km (120 miles) west of Athens. |
| There is no dispute that a veteran police officer called Epaminondas Korkoneas fired the shot that pierced the schoolboy's heart and killed him. | There is no dispute that a veteran police officer called Epaminondas Korkoneas fired the shot that pierced the schoolboy's heart and killed him. |
| What the prosecution will claim is that the policeman aimed directly at Alexandros Grigoropoulos. | What the prosecution will claim is that the policeman aimed directly at Alexandros Grigoropoulos. |
| Ballistic tests on the bullet and service pistol will be key evidence, as will that of friends of Alexandros who were with him in the rebellious Athenian district of Exarchia when the shooting took place. | |
| The boy's family have been hurt by accusations made shortly after his death, that Alexandros was a troublemaker. | The boy's family have been hurt by accusations made shortly after his death, that Alexandros was a troublemaker. |
| Andreas Constantinou, the family spokesman, insists he was an innocent teenager. | |
| Both the boy's family and the main police union have objected to the trial taking place so far from Athens. | Both the boy's family and the main police union have objected to the trial taking place so far from Athens. |
| The family believes the distance will make it difficult for key witnesses to attend. The police regard the move as an insult that implies they could not guarantee security in the Greek capital. | The family believes the distance will make it difficult for key witnesses to attend. The police regard the move as an insult that implies they could not guarantee security in the Greek capital. |
| The restricted number of access roads into Amfissa has given the authorities a chance to prevent large numbers of potential rioters from getting through. | The restricted number of access roads into Amfissa has given the authorities a chance to prevent large numbers of potential rioters from getting through. |
| But shopkeepers in the town have pulled down the shutters in anticipation that they will bear the brunt of anti-establishment wrath. | But shopkeepers in the town have pulled down the shutters in anticipation that they will bear the brunt of anti-establishment wrath. |