1.
GV AND CU EXT. Nicosia District Court. (2 shots)
0.10

2.
SV's Armed security officers around court building. (2 shots)
0.22

3.
SV Prosecution counsel arriving.
0.29

4.
GV AND CU Sampson arrives and escorted from van into court building. (3 shots)
0.53

5.
GV Press and security officers outside building.
1.10

6.
SV Sampson and wife down steps.
1.18

7.
GV Sampson embraced by supporters and his wife and into van. Van drives away. (4 shots)
1.41



Initials VS 3.15 VS 2.30



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Nicos Sampson, who served as President of Cyprus for eight days in July 1974 went on trial in Cyprus on Wednesday (21 July) for alleged complicity in the coup which temporarily overthrow President Archbishop Makarios.

SYNOPSIS: The trial in Nicosia comes two days after the second anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus....an invasion which was prompted by the Greek inspired coup which put Sampson into power. He is the first person to be prosecuted for involvement in the overthrow and the trial is expected to last several weeks.

The prosecution charges Mr. Sampson with using armed forces for the overthrow of the state and with usurping power.

The trial opened with an objection from the defence that Mr. Sampson could not be prosecuted since Archbishop Makarios proclaimed a general amnesty when he returned to resume his presidency in December 1974. Mr. Sampson, now 40 years old, was the defendant in two trials in the same court 20 years ago. In 1954, he was prosecuted as a leading member of Eoka, the guerrilla movement fighting against the British and campaigning for Cypriot union with Greoco.

The court granted an adjournment to allow the defence more time to prepare Mr. Sampson's defence.

Mr. Sampson faces life imprisonment if convicted. Following the amnesty offered by President Makarios, Mr. Sampson renewed his campaign for Enosis..... union with Greece. This led the Cyprus House of Representatives to call for the prosecution of those who continued their campaign despite the amnesty. Mr. Sampson publishes two newspapers in which he defended the coup and his political campaign.