The Hellenic Navy (HN) (Greek: Πολεμικό Ναυτικό, Polemikó Naftikó, abbreviated ΠΝ) is the naval force of Greece, part of the Greek Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy has its roots in the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, which fought in the Greek War of Independence. During the periods of monarchy (1833–1924 and 1936–1973) it was known as the Royal Navy (Βασιλικόν Ναυτικόν, Vasilikón Naftikón, abbreviated ΒΝ).The total displacement of all the navy's vessels is approximately 150,000 tons.The motto of the Hellenic Navy is "Μέγα το της Θαλάσσης Κράτος" from Thucydides' account of Pericles' oration on the eve of the Peloponnesian War. This has been roughly translated as "Great is the country that controls the sea". The Hellenic Navy's emblem consists of an anchor in front of a crossed Christian cross and trident, with the cross symbolizing Greek Orthodoxy, and the trident symbolizing Poseidon, the god of the sea in Greek mythology. Pericles' words are written across the top of the emblem. "The navy, as it represents a necessary weapon for Greece, should only be created for war and aim to victory."...............The Hellenic Merchant Marine refers to the Merchant Marine of Greece, engaged in commerce and transportation of goods and services universally. It consists of the merchant vessels owned by Greek civilians, flying either the Greek flag or a flag of convenience. Greece is a maritime nation by tradition, as shipping is arguably the oldest form of occupation of the Greeks and a key element of Greek economic activity since the ancient times. Nowadays, Greece has the largest merchant fleet in the world, which is the second largest contributor to the national economy after tourism and forms the backbone of world shipping. The Greek fleet flies a variety of flags, however some Greek shipowners gradually return to Greece following the changes to the legislative framework governing their operations and the improvement of infrastructure.Blogger Tips and Tricks
This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς....This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς.........

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Ex-gangster has death sentence reduced[ 435 ]

Ex-gangster has death sentence reduced to life in murder of Nagasaki Mayor Itcho Ito

FUKUOKA -29/09/09- A high court overturned a death sentence for a gang member convicted of gunning down the mayor of Nagasaki in 2007, handing him a life sentence.

The Fukuoka High Court sentenced Tetsuya Shiroo, 62, a senior member of a gang group, to life in prison for murder and violation of the Public Offices Election Law over the 2007 fatal shooting of Nagasaki Mayor Itcho Ito.

Police at the scene of the fatal shooting of Nagasaki Mayor Itcho Ito

"The death penalty is too heavy," said Presiding Judge Shoichi Matsuo on Tuesday, dismissing the death sentence handed down by the Nagasaki District Court in May last year. Shiroo had appealed the lower court ruling.

Ito, then aged 61, was shot twice from behind upon returning to his campaign office near JR Nagasaki Station during the mayoral election campaign on April 17, 2007. He died in the predawn hours the next day.

Weighing the gravity of the crime committed against an incumbent mayor during his election campaign, the Nagasaki District Court sentenced Shiroo to capital punishment, saying, "There is no choice but to opt for the ultimate penalty even in full consideration of there only being a single victim."

During the appeal hearing, the defense counsel for Shiroo demanded a lighter sentence, arguing that the defendant had initially planned to only cause an uproar by firing a blank shot above Ito's campaign car, and denied that the crime was premeditated. "There was a single victim. The fact that the victim was a mayor during his election campaign cannot be said to have magnified the damage," Shiroo's attorney said.

On Tuesday, Presiding Judge Matsuo said the defendant's motive "was not the obstruction of the election itself, and there was no aspect of gain" in his crime. Acknowledging that the lower court's death sentence was "not inapprehensible," Matsuo said, "The fact that the murder cost the life of a single person does not immediately rule out the choice for the death penalty, but it cannot be denied that this issue should be taken seriously."

While recognizing that the slaying of an election candidate constituted a "direct obstruction of an election and a challenge to democracy," the presiding judge said the defendant was mainly motivated by his grudge against the mayor.

"These circumstances of the crime cannot be disregarded, making one hesitate to opt for the death penalty," the presiding judge concluded.

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