An appeal council at the Piraeus Court of Appeal has decided that Athanasios Hortarias can walk free after more than seven years behind bars for his role in the 2018 killing. Hortarias was serving a six year sentence for fatal bodily harm in the case of Zak Kostopoulos, the human rights activist and drag performer known as Zackie Oh. Kostopoulos was attacked and killed in the Athens suburb of Glyfada in September 2018, a death that shook the country and turned into a landmark case on hate violence. The council accepted Hortarias' appeal and ordered his release, but attached a set of conditions to the decision. He must show good behaviour and keep up work inside the prison for as long as he remains in the system. He is also required to have secure housing and a job arranged for the period after he leaves custody. As long as he meets those requirements, the rest of his sentence will be served outside prison walls.