The three defendants accused of involvement in the deadly arson attack on a Marfin bank branch in May 2010, which claimed the lives of three employees, including a pregnant woman, have been granted additional time before appearing before an investigating magistrate to respond to new charges next week.

According to reports, two of the defendants are due to give supplementary statements on 21 October, while the third is scheduled to appear on 23 October. All three have been summoned for further questioning following the filing of additional criminal charges at the request of Athens’ Third Investigating Magistrate, who is handling the case.

Specifically, following the magistrate’s request, the Athens Prosecutor’s Office brought additional charges against the three defendants under Article 187A of the Greek Criminal Code, relating to murder committed in the context of terrorist acts, as well as the attempted murder of 24 bank employees.

According to reports, however, no new evidence relating to the upgraded charges has so far been added to the case file.

Once the three defendants have provided their supplementary statements, the investigation into the Marfin case will be concluded and the case file forwarded to the Athens Council of Misdemeanour Judges.

The council will then decide whether the defendants should stand trial on the new charges. If the charges are upheld, the case will be heard not by a mixed jury court, where ordinary citizens make up the majority of the panel, but by a three-judge criminal appeals court composed exclusively of professional judges.

Meanwhile, minor clashes broke out on Tuesday between police officers and supporters of the defendants who had gathered outside the courthouse as the three were brought before the judicial authorities to request additional time to prepare their statements.