Alexis Kougias: A life lived at full throttle

Alexis Kougias, who passed distant contiguous astatine the property of 74, was undeniably overmuch much than a top-tier transgression lawyer with an impeccable bid of the law.

Above all, arsenic helium often said himself, helium was conscionable a kid from Petroupoli, playing with a hoop successful the working-class vicinity wherever helium grew up, dreaming of a amended life.

Raised successful conditions acold from perfect but with loving parents, this tough Petroupoli native (and ne'er a Kolonaki socialite) became not lone an exceptional lawyer but besides a dedicated household man, a football nine president, a media favorite, a fearless fighter, and a self-made occurrence story.

Throughout his eventful career, helium built beardown friendships, including with Lakis Lazopoulos, Grigoris Vallianatos, and Sakis Kehagioglou, lone to aboriginal clash with them publicly.

Had helium not been a lawyer—handling over 16,000 cases, arsenic helium often reminded people—he could person pursued anything other helium wanted.

Footballer, referee, prosecutor, judge, actor, politician, PR specialist, adjacent a showman—Kougias had the charisma to excel successful immoderate field.

A Lawyer Who Became a Media Phenomenon

During his storied ineligible career, Kougias recovered himself astatine the halfway of countless high-profile cases.

One of the astir dramatic chapters successful his beingness was his highly publicized divorce from erstwhile exemplary Evi Vatidou. But this time, the media attention that had agelong favored him was not connected his side.

In the years that followed, however, helium and his ex-wife mended their relationship for the involvement of their 2 children, whom helium adored and spoke of with heavy affection.

The Rise of a Legal Titan

Kougias entered the ineligible assemblage astatine just 23 years old. His assemblage years successful Thessaloniki were challenging, and to enactment himself, helium played amateur football.

Despite fiscal struggles, helium was an excellent student and rapidly obtained his law degree. Initially moving arsenic a trainee lawyer, helium was consenting to take connected immoderate job to survive—from moving successful cafés to delivering newspapers—never shying distant from his humble origins, adjacent arsenic helium aboriginal became portion of the legal and societal elite.

With intelligence, relentless enactment ethic, and fierce ambition, helium built his sanction with precision, waiting for the breakthrough that would propel him to the top of the ineligible world.

That infinitesimal came with his defense of infamous figures, including Danos Krystallis, accused of being linked to the 17 November violent group, Argyris Saliarelis, and the shocking kidnapping lawsuit of Marcelino, which cemented his reputation.

His career skyrocketed erstwhile TV cameras entered courtrooms, capturing his high-stakes ineligible battles—most notably the fierce ineligible quality betwixt Vassia Panagopoulou and Apostolos Doxiadis.

From past on, the explosive transgression lawyer became a TV sensation, often appearing connected news panels, wherever his beingness would send ratings soaring.

A Man Who Knew How to Command Attention

Kougias had a flair for theatrics. In court, helium could electrify the room, captivating some judges and journalists alike.

His bold courtroom style often bordered connected melodramatic performance, raising tensions and drawing each eyes connected him.

Yet, his outspoken nature besides led to heated clashes—with fellow lawyers, victims’ families, and adjacent judges.

One of his most infamous courtroom altercations was with Alexandros Katsantonis during the proceedings of ELA (Revolutionary People’s Struggle). When Katsantonis, representing the Bernardos family, attempted to interrupt Kougias’ fiery argument, helium snapped:
“Why are you interrupting me, sir? Are you sick? Katsantonis thinks he’s successful a antithetic courtroom—one from 1967, erstwhile helium became a professor!”

The Controversial Relationship with Dimitra Margeti

One of the most debated aspects of Kougias’ vocation was his transportation to Dimitra Margeti, a suspect successful the infamous “Satanists of Pallini” case.

Using his undeniable ineligible skills, Kougias successfully defended her, reducing her condemnation to 17 years and aboriginal securing her conditional release.

However, he aboriginal regretted taking her case, openly stating successful an interrogation that he wished helium had ne'er defended her.

Their narration ended abruptly erstwhile Margeti sent him a idiosyncratic letter conscionable earlier his wedding to Evi Vatidou, starring to widespread rumors that she had romantic feelings for him—or vice versa.

Margeti never publically addressed the speculation, fueling adjacent much gossip.

The Judicial Scandal, Kalousis, Kehagioglou, and the Battle Against Corruption

Kougias played a pivotal role successful exposing the Greek judicial scandal, taking nonstop purpose astatine Sakis Kehagioglou and respective former judges and lawyers.

He publically accused Kehagioglou of demanding 100 cardinal drachmas from psychiatrist Petros Lymperis to prevent his indictment by justice Antonia Ilias.

Initially, Kougias represented Lymperis, but later, Kehagioglou took implicit the case. Months later, Kougias retracted his testimony, stating helium had no factual proof against Kehagioglou.

He was besides liable for exposing the bizarre habits of disgraced erstwhile justice Evangelos Kalousis, who allegedly measured overseas women with a portion measure earlier engaging with them.

Kalousis aboriginal dismissed Kougias’ claims, accusing him of seeking publicity, saying:
“Kougias ne'er won a lawsuit erstwhile I was connected the bench.”

Rivalries and Legal Clashes

Kougias had many battles, including a high-profile feud with lawyer Giorgos Alfadakis, who represented Panagiotis Aggelopoulos.

Their TV showdowns were infamous, filled with accusations of bribery, corruption, and scandalous pasts.

At 1 point, Kougias stated:
“We each cognize what helium did during the dictatorship, the felonies helium was accused of aft the junta—Alfadakis is simply a joke.”

To which Alfadakis fired back:
“He’s a sewer—I’ll enactment a muzzle connected him!”

Both ended up earlier the Athens Bar Association’s disciplinary committee for unprofessional conduct.

Many accused Kougias of doing thing for publicity, craving the TV spotlight and the society pages of magazines.

In an interrogation with Proto Thema, helium admitted his love-hate narration with fame, stating:
“If I could extremity each my ineligible feuds, I would bash it successful a heartbeat. I privation my household to unrecorded successful a peaceful environment.”

He besides expressed regret for overexposing himself successful the media:
“I started with bully intentions, actively participating successful societal life. Unfortunately, immoderate people—whether journalists oregon citizens—used my sanction for their ain publicity. They item my 2 flaws alternatively of my 100 bully qualities.”

“I utilized to judge I could hole the world. Maybe I was wrong. But done each this, I’ve learned a lot—especially astir however the media operates. And I tin honestly accidental I’ve go wiser.”