Ex-Peabody cop, accused mom batterer, weeps in court

SALEM – George Sideris, the suspended Peabody police officer accused of beating his elderly mother unconscious in 2004, says he was “wrongfully imprisoned” and is going to sue his attorney and the district attorney.In Salem Superior Court Monday morning, a visibly distraught Sideris, 36, of Peabody, told Judge David A. Lowy during a status hearing in the case that when he was sent to Bridgewater State Hospital in June, he was “wrongfully imprisoned,” and the district attorney caused him “malicious intent.”During the hearing, Sideris lashed out at his attorney, Steven J. Rappaport, claiming he had not brought a preliminary trial motion on his behalf and violated his contract, but Lowy quickly restrained Sideris telling him that he would not stand for any “outburst” in his court.Then, as Sideris read an excerpt from “Founders on Religion,” citing Thomas Jefferson and his right of presumption, he wept in court, telling Lowy he has been discussing his case with another attorney – his fourth since the case began – and will be bringing lawsuits.Rappaport, who believes Sideris is not competent, told Lowy that Sideris has told him he discharged him in June, won’t speak to him, thinks he violated his rights and says he now is going to sue him, obviously putting him in a very difficult situation.”I’ve tried to do everything I could on his behalf,” Rappaport assured Lowy, but said his client insists he is competent and wants a trial, while pointing out to Lowy that Sideris basically is without counsel at this point.”I feel terrible I’m being replaced, but he won’t talk to me,” Rappaport said, acknowledging no other attorney has yet entered the case.Assistant District Attorney Karen H. Hopwood wants an independent mental evaluation of Sideris by their own expert, Dr. Malcolm Rogers, which should be done within the next few weeks.It will then be up to a judge to review the evaluations and determine if Sideris is competent. If he is found competent, a trial will be scheduled, but if not, the case will remain on hold until he is determined to be competent to stand trial.Rappaport assured the judge that he would do everything to facilitate that mental evaluation ordered earlier by the court.He also suggested again that a legal guardian be appointed for Sideris to communicate with him, but none has yet been appointed.On June 11, Sideris was to stand trial for 2004 Thanksgiving Day beating of his then 73-year-old mother, Melpomeni Sideris, at their 9 Ellsworth Road home in Peabody, which he denies, but apparently admitted to his priest.But following an examination by a psychiatrist at Bridgewater State Hospital, it was determined he is not competent to stand trial, but is not a danger to himself or anyone else and does not need to be confined to a mental institution.His mother, now 76, was in a coma following the incident, eventually regained consciousness but never returned home. She lives in a Lynn nursing home and he is allowed supervised visits.Sideris, who currently lives in an apartment on Walnut Street, will be back in court on Dec. 31 for another status date.