The trial for the murder of 27-year-old Pakistani migrant worker Sahzat Luqman in Petralona about a year ago has began with the two defendants, Christos Stergiopoulos and Dionisis Liakopoulos, denying any involvement with Golden Dawn.

Immediately after denying any involvement with the ultranationalist party, Liakopoulos expressed his sorrow to the victim’s family, who are travelling to Greece to attend the trial proceedings. The prosecution has asked the court to treat the murder as a racist crime.

According to the police report, the two defendants claimed to have gotten into an argument with the victim, who was on his way to work, when they attacked him and stabbed him to death. The two were later arrested by the police for driving around on a motorbike with a concealed license plate. The police recovered stiletto knives, knuckledusters, wooden clubs as well as Golden Dawn election campaign leaflets.

Anti-racism organization KEERFA is currently holding a rally outside the courts, to celebrate the International Immigrant Day.