The decision to convict Special Guard Epaminondas Korkoneas of murder closes one of the darkest chapters of recent Greek history and is a source of considerable relief for the country's socialist government.
Anything other than a guilty verdict could have triggered a violent response from the country's youth, many of whom regard the police with suspicion, mistrust and outright hatred.
The outcome is a source of grim satisfaction for the family of 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos, who had fully expected the "Rambo of Exarchia" to be convicted of murder.
Alexandros' mother, Gina Tsakilian, who runs a jewellery store in Athens, was highly distressed by attempts by Korkoneas' defence team to paint her son as a trouble maker and the verdict helps to restore his memory.
"Justice has been done," a spokesman for Ms Tsakilian told the BBC.
"Of course, Alexandros is not coming back, but at least what is important for the family is that his good name has been restored".
Lingering angerThe conviction was also welcomed by Manos Koufouglou, who chairs the residents association of Exarchia, the rebellious Bohemian district of central Athens where the killing took place and where there are frequent clashes with riot police.
But Mr Koufouglou said that while tensions had eased, the people of Exarchia remained unhappy that the armed Special Guard unit to which Korkoneas belonged had not been disbanded.
BBC News
