Menelaos Sapountzis

One of the two lawyers who undertook the defense of Aristidis Pagratidis in the trial for the orphanage attack (1964) and in the trial of the "Dragon" of Seich Sou (1966).

During the Dragon trial, tensions arise between him and the presiding judge Ioannis Aletras. In protest, Sapountzis withdraws from the courtroom (for the first time) together with his colleague Dimitrios Lazos. After their return two days later, Sapountzis, following a proposal by the state prosecutor and a decision of the court, is punished with a formal reprimand. [A formal reprimand constitutes a mild disciplinary sanction, which is recorded in the lawyer’s disciplinary file but has no serious immediate consequences for the practice of the profession.]

Following the conclusion of the Dragon trial, and after the defense has withdrawn from the court for a second time upon completion of the evidentiary proceedings he, together with his colleague Mr. Lazos, face two serious actions:

• Disciplinary proceedings.
  The relevant complaint against them is submitted to the Thessaloniki Bar Association by Ioannis Aletras.
• The possibility of criminal prosecution.
  The initiation of criminal proceedings against them is again requested from the Prosecutor of the Court of Appeal by Ioannis Aletras.