Nestor murder: Supplementary statements in Thessaloniki under stricter counter-terrorism framework
The two defendants alleged to be the direct perpetrators of the firebomb attack against Vagia Nestor were called to Thessaloniki courts on 7 October. The case is now being examined under a stricter clause of the counter-terrorism law.
Upgraded indictment brings four defendants back before the examining magistrate
The two defendants alleged to be the direct perpetrators — a 29-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman — appeared in Thessaloniki courts on 7 October to give supplementary statements in the case of the murder of Vagia Nestor via firebomb attack. According to Dikastiko.gr, their appearance was the result of an adjournment they had requested and obtained following the upgrade of the indictment.
The critical change concerns the legal characterisation of the acts: the case is now being examined on the basis of paragraph 1 of article 187A of the Criminal Code, instead of paragraph 2 which was initially applied. This transition entails a stricter penalty framework and brings the case under a different counter-terrorism provision.
All four defendants within the supplementary proceedings framework
The supplementary statement procedure is not limited to the two alleged direct perpetrators. Last Thursday, the 24-year-old flat owner and the 25-year-old, who is said to be the link in the chain for handing over the keys to the couple who carried out the attack, were brought before the examining magistrate.
Both were granted adjournments for their own supplementary statements. The 25-year-old is expected to return before the examining magistrate on 9 October, whilst the 24-year-old has been granted an adjournment for 15 October.
Defence reactions regarding the 24-year-old
According to thestival.gr, the lawyer for the 24-year-old, Ersi Fotopoulos, has expressed her opposition to the upgrade in the legal characterisation affecting her client. As she stated, the examining magistrate proceeded with a different legal classification, moving from paragraph 2 to paragraph 1 of the counter-terrorism law.
The defence argues that the 24-year-old's role is clearly differentiated from that of the other defendants. He is said to claim that he handed over the keys to his flat to the 25-year-old — whom he has named — and that the latter then transferred them to the operational couple.
New evidentiary material from Athens
Alongside the statements, new material expected to be utilised in the supplementary proceedings has emerged from evidence being examined in Athens. The 24-year-old's defence has focused particularly on material which, according to his lawyer, depicts the point where a red bag containing clothing was handed over — items allegedly intended for the residence of those involved in the flat.
This finding will be assessed in conjunction with all the digital and other evidence that has been gathered from the investigation by the Counter-Terrorism Service. From the outset of the investigation, the focus of the authorities has been on the movements of the defendants before and after the attack, their contacts with one another, the flat allegedly used as a gathering point, as well as digital findings from their mobile phones.
Source: Dikastiko.gr