24-year-old flat owner denies involvement in Nestor murder in Thessaloniki
The 24-year-old student gave supplementary testimony before the examining magistrate in Thessaloniki, denying knowledge of the purpose for which his flat was to be used.
24-year-old denies everything in case of petrol bomb attack on Nestor family
The 24-year-old student allegedly involved in the fatal petrol bomb attack against the Nestor family gave supplementary testimony before the examining magistrate in Thessaloniki, according to Dikastiko.gr. Vaia Nestor, mother of New Democracy politician Aphrodite Nestor, lost her life in the attack.
The 24-year-old is the owner of the abandoned flat that is alleged to have been used as a base before and after the attack. According to the indictment, he handed over the keys to the flat to his 25-year-old co-defendant, who in turn gave them to the alleged operational pair — the 29-year-old and the 26-year-old.
The defendant's stance
The 24-year-old was brought to the Thessaloniki Court building in the morning, where he maintained a complete denial of any involvement in the case. He claimed that he was unaware of the actual purpose for which his flat was to be used.
According to information, he stated that he had been informed vaguely about some planned "action", but without knowing that it involved placing petrol bombs. Regarding his relationship with the 25-year-old, he repeated that the two of them knew each other from university.
After the procedure was completed, the 24-year-old returned to prison. In view of his transfer, enhanced police measures were taken at the Court building.
Upgrade of charges to terrorist offences
The supplementary testimony was requested by the examining magistrate in the context of an upgrade of certain acts in the indictment connected with terrorist activities and carrying more severe penalties. Similar testimonies had previously been given by the two defendants as alleged perpetrators, and in the coming days the 25-year-old is expected to testify using the same procedure.
All the people involved remain in pre-trial detention since July, when they were arrested.
The charges and the broader case file
The charges attributed to all the people involved include, among others, homicide with possible malice aforethought, participation in a terrorist organisation, causing an explosion, possession of explosives and arson.
Also included in the same case file are two other arson attacks with petrol bombs that took place in the early hours of 1 July, the same day as the attack on the Nestor family. The targets were the residences of Zisis Ioakeimovis, chairman of the ND governing committee for Thessaloniki, and former MP Savvas Anastasiades. For these attacks, investigations by the Counter-Terrorism Service are ongoing to identify the perpetrators.
Source: Dikastiko.gr