Press photographer Dimitris Legakis has once again triumphed in court, after his second prosecution in 18 months was dropped just before his appeal hearing. He was initially convicted of a public order offence following an incident while covering a fire at Day’s Motorpark in Gorseinon. Legakis received a fine and was ordered to pay prosecution costs, but his conviction has now been quashed.
The Crown Prosecution Service withdrew opposition to his appeal just 30 minutes before it was due to be heard, claiming it wasn’t in the public interest. This isn’t the first time Legakis faced legal action only for charges to be dropped at the last minute. Last year, he was prosecuted while covering a car fire in Swansea, but that case was also abandoned, prompting a judge to call it “disturbing” and hint at deeper issues.
The heart of the matter seems to be Legakis’ interactions with police officers. His lawyer has argued that he was prosecuted for merely upsetting an officer, infringing on his right to freedom of expression. The lawyer highlighted that it’s not a crime to be “insulting or disrespectful”. It’s a reminder of the importance of protecting journalistic freedom, especially when documenting public scenes.
While Legakis has emerged victorious, the judge expressed dismay over the wasted court time and urged that such cases be reviewed more promptly in the future. For Legakis, it’s a relief, as the court confirmed there is no longer a conviction against him, and his legal costs will be covered.
This case underscores the delicate balance between law enforcement and press freedom, highlighting the role of journalists in holding power to account. It’s a win for Legakis, but raises questions on how similar situations are handled.