N17 convict Xeros gets more time for defense on prison breakout plan

November 17 convict Christodoulos Xeros was on Friday given additional time, until next Thursday, to give evidence regarding his failure to return from a prison furlough last year and his alleged plan to help members of the Conspiracy of the Cells of Fire guerrilla group break out of Attica's high security prison last December.

According to sources, Xeros requested more time to familiarize himself with the charge sheet, which is in electronic form, claiming that he has not been permitted access to a computer, and has been deprived of his reading glasses during his stay at Attica's police headquarters. Xeros was transferred to Athens from a prison on Crete in order to defend himself before special magistrate Eftychis Nikopoulos. According to sources, however, Xeros is not intending to answer the magistrate's questions but issue a political statement.