Conviction for the murder of 11-year-old Mario by a stray bullet in Menidi
Mario's father spoke after the court's guilty verdict in the death of his son inside the school in 2017.
Conviction for the murder of 11-year-old Mario by a stray bullet in Menidi
The Mixed Jury Court announced its verdict in the case that shocked Menidi in 2017, when an 11-year-old student was killed by a bullet fired near his school. The victim's father made statements immediately after the verdict was announced.
The child drew his last breath in June 2017, within the grounds of his school, when a bullet struck him fatally. The family then began a long legal journey, which lasted nine full years. The father stressed that the judicial proceedings were conducted with respect for the child's memory and with a sense of obligation to every child in the area.
According to his words, the judges examined all the evidence and reached a decision that corresponds to the legal framework. The convicted man, as he said, "received what was due to him". He himself characterised the outcome as "moral vindication".
The father explained that the family's struggle had aimed to send a clear message: blind shootings, the use of weapons and their possession cannot go unpunished. He expressed the wish that the verdict would serve as a point of reference for the entire community.
He also referred to the situation experienced daily by residents in the area, who are forced to move about in fear of a shooting. "We ought to walk in the streets without fearing that a bullet might hit us from anywhere," he said.
Finally, he spoke about Mario's classmates and friends, who went through difficult times all these years. "The children lost their friend. No one could comfort them," he noted, reminding that behind every case file lies a human life that was lost unjustly, as well as a generation that was marked by the event.
Source: Newsbeast
Source: Newsbeast