Greek court upholds Satanists' sentences
(12-23-97)A Reuters report said an Athens appeals court upheld stiff prison sentences for two young Satanists who were appealing their convictions of rape and murder in shocking black magic ceremonies. A 30-year-old woman and a 15-year-old girl died in occult ceremonies the story said took place in deserted buildings near Athens.
The court upheld life sentences on two counts of rape and murder and one count of kidnapping for cult members known as Amon and Enigma, the article said. The death penalty was abolished in Greece in 1993. The pair can request release after serving at least 20 years. A ``high priestess'' was again found guilty as an accessory to murder and sentenced to 17 years and four months.
The trio tried to convince the court they had seen the light and had now turned to God, but witnesses to an initiation ceremony testified and reminded the court that the heinous crimes revolted the citizens of Greece when they became known, Reuters said. The report added that the case mesmerized television viewers as experts from psychologists to church witch-hunters tried to determine whether the youths believed in Satan or merely used the occult to rape, kill and obtain money.
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