Mixed Jury Court ruling on Valyrakis death — two fishermen in the dock
The Mixed Jury Court of Athens has issued a ruling on two fishermen accused in the death of the former minister. The prosecutor sought conviction for intentional homicide.
Mixed Jury Court of Athens rules on Valyrakis death case
The Mixed Jury Court of Athens announced its ruling today on two professional fishermen standing trial for the death of former minister Sifis Valyrakis, as reported by Dikastiko.gr. The judicial proceedings concluded after extensive examination of the circumstances that led to the death of the former government official.
The prosecutor's submission: intentional homicide
The presiding prosecutor sought the conviction of both defendants for intentional homicide jointly. According to his address, on the afternoon of Sunday, 24 January 2021, in the sea area between Pezonisios and Agia Triada in Eretria, a verbal and physical altercation broke out between Sifis Valyrakis — who at that time was spearfishing — and the two fishermen.
The prosecutor described manoeuvres of the fishing vessel and blows struck with a wooden pole, which resulted in Valyrakis ending up in the water with serious head and body injuries. His death is attributed to the drowning that followed. According to the prosecutor's assessment, the defendants had foreseen the outcome of their actions, accepted it, and subsequently left the scene.
Eyewitness and the credibility of his testimony
A decisive role in the evaluation of the facts was played by the testimony of Evangelos Asmani, who observed the incident from the shore. The prosecutor characterised his testimony as absolutely credible. In his reasoning, Asmani — a professional fisherman familiar with maritime matters — described with precision the movements of the two vessels, the altercation, and the critical moments that unfolded at sea, without exaggeration.
The defendants deny any involvement
The two defendants categorically denied any involvement in the incident during their statements in defence. They maintained that on that day they had not gone out to sea due to adverse weather conditions. The defence submitted video material from the day after the incident, the delayed submission of which provoked strong reactions from the civil party and questions regarding its authenticity and the time of submission.
Family and civil party: autopsy findings at the centre
During the trial, numerous witnesses were examined. The wife of the victim, Mina Papatheodoro-Valyrakis, and their son, Alexandros Valyrakis, testified, insisting on the account of the criminal act. They cited the autopsy findings and the wounds discovered on the body of the former minister as evidence of the violent attack.
The witness stand also heard from former prime minister Antonis Samaras, who stated that he had spoken by telephone with Valyrakis shortly before the latter's final outing to sea. According to his testimony, the deceased was in excellent physical and psychological condition, thereby ruling out in his view the account of an accident.
Source: Dikastiko.gr