Greece file charges in Helios case

CHARGES ranging from murder to negligence have been filed by Greek authorities against six former Helios Airways officials, reports said last night.

State television CyBC said the six included three Cypriots, two Britons and a Bulgarian but details were sketchy and the identities of the six were not revealed.

All are said to be former officials of Helios, whose Boeing crashed north of Athens on August 14, 2005, killing all 121 passengers and crew.

Later reports said the charges included murder and protracted negligence that led to the death of 121 people.

Four of the six were said to be former Helios staff with “positions of responsibility” within the airline, which is now defunct. One is said to have been a member of the technical department and another, a senior staff member.

The charges were brought following after Greek prosecutors launched an investigation in the wake of the official Air Accident Committee report drawn up by Akrivos Tsolakis in late 2006.

On Monday the Cypriot authorities completed their investigation into the crash. The report is 300 pages long but it is widely reported that the police have not made any recommendation as to whether or not criminal proceedings should be pursued.

Friends and relatives of the victims flight have called on Attorney-general Petros Clerides to waste no more time in starting criminal proceedings.

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