Two police officers remanded in custody over death of 20-year-old in Argos
The two OPKE officers who shot and killed a 20-year-old during a chase in Argos have been remanded in custody at Korydallos prison, denying allegations of intent to kill.
Two police officers remanded in custody over death of 20-year-old in Argos
The two officers of the Crime Prevention and Suppression Unit (OPKE) who shot and fatally wounded a 20-year-old during a chase in Argos have been remanded in custody and transferred to Korydallos prison.
The victim, who had a certified mental disability of 89 per cent according to a KEPA certificate, suffered gunshot wounds to the head and was hospitalised in the intensive care unit of KAT hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of Wednesday.
During their hearing before the examining magistrate, the two accused officers denied allegations of intent to kill. They maintained that the shots were warning shots and were intended to frighten the young man into stopping his vehicle. "We did not under any circumstances aim towards the suspect with the intention of injuring him," they stated.
The officers also claimed that the 20-year-old attempted to hit them with his vehicle at least twice and had caused damage to police vehicles. "We were running and so was he. Our shots were to force him to stop," they added.
The legal representative of the victim's family, Maria Sfetsou, described the remand in custody as expected, given the circumstances of the tragic incident. She emphasised that the young man's reaction was due to fear and panic, rather than any intention to attack the police officers or escape by force.
The investigation continues with ballistic testing, which is expected to clarify whether the shots were warning shots or direct fire. During an inspection of the scene, officers from the Criminal Investigation Directorate found 13 cartridge cases. The young man was in possession of an air rifle, which has been seized and is under examination.
Source: ertnews.gr
Source: ERT