The lawyer Joanna Kurtovik asked for the floor and informed the court about an article containing information on the families and lives of some of the defendants published by a Sunday edition. According to her, the journalist had used quotes from the testimony of their parents in the preliminary investigation. The lawyer asked the court to determine who provided the confidential information and personal data of the defendants and to impose penalties provided by law. Joanna Kurtovik’s request was supported by all her colleagues.
Her client Panagiotis Argirou took the floor after her and said: "If this is your decision we will leave the court, giving up the protection of defenders and of the daily ration. If the court appoints public defenders we will begin a hunger strike."
The short declaration caused a furor among the audience which began to chant slogans like "Hands off the fighters," "Passion for freedom is stronger than all the cells" and called on the defendants who went out of the room to be "proud and strong."
The judicial council withdrew to appoint public defenders for the defendants, while most of their supporters were leaving the hall.
The defenders caused a short turmoil because of a video of the first hearing uploaded in an information web portal, although this is prohibited. A relative of one of the youths drew allegations to a journalist.
The misunderstanding was resolved quickly but some young people said minutes later that a policeman in civilian clothes shot today's hearings. They advanced on him and clashes followed. The police officers who were in the room called for support. Then, their colleagues who guarded the defendants in the adjacent room responded to their request and left the six defendants unattended. According to some sources, the accused opened the door and headed towards the prison yard where police intercepted them. The person in charge for the defendants guarding described the case as "an attempted escape."
Once the situation returned to its normal the judicial council appointed two public defenders for each defendant. The trial has been interrupted and will continue tomorrow.
Following the announcement of the decision it was heard among the people that this was a travesty and this process would never take place.