The judges of the Three-Member Misdemeanour Court presiding over the Mati wildfire trial on Wednesday refused to admit any mitigating circumstances for the 10 individuals found guilty in connection with the blaze that tore through the seaside town on July 23, 2018, leaving over 100 people dead and many more seriously injured.

According to the presiding judge, the court ruled - by a 2-to-1 majority - not to grant
mitigating factors to those found guilty. The presiding judge dissented, arguing that the court should admit the lack of a prior criminal record for some of the defendants.

All three judges were unanimous in rejecting the other mitigating circumstances put forward by the defence.

In a verdict on Tuesday, the Three-Member Misdemeanour Court found eight former senior officers in the fire brigade, including the former fire brigade chief, as well as the former general secretary for civil protection Ioannis Kapakis and the man responsible for starting the fire, guilty of contributing to the deaths and injuries resulting from the July 2018 wildfire.

The judges found that these officials had through actions or omissions, by virtue of their position, contributed to the 100-plus deaths and dozens of injuries caused by the fire, among citizens left helpless by the authorities in the face of the advancing flames.

They were found guilty of multiple counts of homicide through negligence, bodily harm through negligence and for other specific acts and omissions.

The court also unanimously acquitted 11 defendants standing trial, including the former Attica region governor Rena Dourou and the then mayors of Marathonas, Rafina-Pikermi and Penteli.