Abuse of 3-year-old in Chania: Felony charges against mother and partner
The 25-year-old mother and her Pakistani partner face felony charges for attempted murder of the 3-year-old girl. The child is hospitalised in critical condition at the University Hospital of Crete.
Felony charges in abuse case of 3-year-old in Chania
The 25-year-old mother and her Pakistani partner are expected to face felony charges within the framework of the investigation into the abuse of the woman's 3-year-old daughter in Chania, according to ERT. The couple was initially arrested on misdemeanour charges and brought before the Chania prosecutor; however, the investigation was expanded to include attempted murder of the three-year-old girl.
According to the investigation findings, the 25-year-old had provided false identity details and a different place of residence. Authorities are also required to clarify whether her partner is the father of the three-year-old or any of the other children, whilst the matter remains open regarding her disturbing claim that she "lost" two other children she had given birth to — which, she says, "died while breastfeeding".
The 3-year-old in stable critical condition
The child was transported injured to Chania Hospital on Thursday 21 May by her mother, where doctors detected signs of serious abuse. Since then she has been hospitalised at the University Hospital of Crete (UHOC) in stable but critical condition.
According to UHOC director Giorgos Chalkiadakis, the process of awakening the 3-year-old has begun with the aim of weaning her off the ventilator. The child has a subdural haematoma as a consequence of traumatic brain injury, brain contusion, as well as an old fracture that is suspected to have resulted from previous abuse.
The other three children of the 25-year-old — a six-year-old, an eight-year-old and a six-month-old infant — are being accommodated on prosecutor's orders in a safe environment at Chania Hospital.
Lived in greenhouse storage
New testimony from local residents reveals that the family lived in a greenhouse storage space that had been temporarily provided by a property owner in the area to prevent them from being exposed to weather conditions. According to the same testimony, the parents worked occasionally in agricultural labour, whilst they frequently asked residents for food, clothing and other necessities.
Residents also report that the older children took on the responsibility of caring for the younger ones amid these difficult living conditions. Authorities continue the investigation to uncover the full extent of the conditions under which the family lived, as well as the identity of the children's father.
Source: ERT