Defendants' statements in murder of 15-year-old in Kalithea: "We had no intention"
Six of the seven arrested individuals gave statements before an investigating magistrate regarding the murder of a 15-year-old in a park in Kalithea. They claimed they had no homicidal intent.
Six defendants appear before investigating magistrate in death of 15-year-old in Kalithea
Six of the seven arrested individuals appeared before the investigating magistrate today, 29 June, regarding the murder of a 15-year-old in the central park of Kalithea on the evening of last Wednesday. According to cnn.gr, the seventh defendant is receiving medical treatment and was unable to give a statement.
The arrested individuals argued that they had no homicidal intent and that they acted in self-defence. Some claimed they saw the perpetrator holding a knife from the start, while others denied any involvement in the assault.
An 18-year-old eyewitness and friend of the alleged perpetrator testified, according to ERT, that the victim attacked first. "We started insulting each other and got into a fight. We were throwing punches at each other. The victim hit the perpetrator and then the perpetrator left," the 18-year-old said. He added that he tried to warn the victim about the knife, but was unable to intervene before the victim fell wounded.
According to the statements, there were two confrontations: the first in Kalithea square between three groups, and the second in the surrounding alleyways, where the 15-year-old received the fatal blow. "I was in the first confrontation, but in the second one where the tragic incident occurred, I was not present. I do not even have a visual image of the second confrontation," the same 18-year-old stated.
After the murder, the defendants allegedly put their shirts on inside-out in an apparent attempt to conceal their group insignia and mislead the authorities.
The motive is said to be twofold: personal differences and football-related rivalries. Some mentioned a personal dispute between two individuals over a girl, while others claimed the incident started by chance. With these versions, according to cnn.gr, the defendants are seeking to avoid the harsh penalties provided for under legislation on sports violence.
Source: Google News GR — Crime (el)