Trial over murder in Agio Dimitrio: Father of 27-year-old Theophilos delivers emotional testimony
The ELAS officer testified while holding a photograph of his son, demanding accountability for the 20-year-old friend of the perpetrator. The prosecutor requested referral of the case file for investigation into complicity in manslaughter.
Shocking testimony at trial for death of 27-year-old in Agio Dimitrio
According to Newsbeast, the courtroom of the Three-Member Court of First Instance was transfixed during the testimony of an ELAS officer, the father of 27-year-old Theophilos who was killed by knife by a 20-year-old in Agio Dimitrio two months ago. The trial concerns two girls and a 20-year-old, a friend of the perpetrator, who are accused of harbouring a criminal.
The father of the victim testified whilst holding a photograph of his son in his hands. He asserted that the 20-year-old defendant saw from a distance of 300 metres the handle of the knife that the perpetrator was carrying, without reacting.
"He left him and walked away… he didn't say to him 'you wretch, what did you do? I have nothing to do with you, murderer'. They went to the car together and left… they continued as if nothing was happening. They left my child writhing. No humanity, no empathy… He knew he was carrying a knife. He had absolute knowledge… My son breathed his last where we were playing ball," the witness said.
The prosecutor adopts the father's position
The prosecutor at the Bench also adopted the father's assessment of the role of the 20-year-old defendant. After evaluating the evidence in the case, she requested the court to refer the case file to the Prosecutor's Office in order to investigate the defendant for complicity in manslaughter.
"He is the definition of an ordinary accomplice who stands beside the perpetrator, providing assistance before, during and after the act. It defies common logic that his friend came with a large knife and he could not imagine anything. It makes no sense that he saw the child being stabbed and they left him to die. Even in conditions of war a person is not left to die like that," the prosecutor stated.
At the same time, she requested the acquittal of all three defendants — the two girls, one of whom is the former partner of the victim, and the 20-year-old — from the charge of harbouring a criminal. Regarding the two female defendants, she noted that harbouring a criminal presupposes a special legal obligation, a condition that does not apply in this particular case.
The 20-year-old's statement in defence
In his statement in defence, the 20-year-old defendant acknowledged that he saw the perpetrator pull out the knife and wound Theophilos, but contended that he was overcome by fear.
"I ran to get to them first but before I reached him he pulled out the knife. I saw the knife and became anxious for my life. We got to below the house and I waited for him to change clothes. In the car I thought about leaving and calling the police, but I was overcome by fear because he knew where I live. In previous arguments we had, he was generally hot-tempered as a character. He also had blood on his hand," the 20-year-old testified.
The trial will continue on 30 June, when the court's ruling is expected.
Source: Newsbeast