36-year-old remanded in custody for father's murder in Serres – neighbour challenges guilt
The 36-year-old accused of murdering his father has been sent to Nigrita Prison. A neighbour of the victim claims she rules out the son's guilt.
Remand in custody for 36-year-old in connection with father's murder in Serres
The 36-year-old accused of murdering his father was ordered remanded in custody on Friday 6 November 2026, following his appearance before the judicial authorities. Despite the execution of a provisional detention warrant and his transfer to Nigrita Prison, the accused maintained that he is innocent.
According to Newsit.gr, the father of the 36-year-old, Giorgos Chatzidis, was found dead on 1 August inside his flat in an apartment building in Serres. Initially, the death was attributed to natural causes, and the flat was found in disarray. The findings of the post-mortem examination that followed showed that the death was caused by criminal activity: the pathologist recorded multiple injuries to the abdominal area from a blunt object, possibly a hammer.
The 36-year-old was arrested on the evening of Tuesday 3 November 2026. Criminal proceedings have been initiated against him for intentional homicide against a family member in a state of calm consciousness, as well as for unlawful possession of weapons and illegal use of weapons. Provisional detention is a procedural measure and does not constitute a conviction; the accused's guilt will be determined by the courts.
Neighbour disputes son's involvement
A neighbour of the 68-year-old victim spoke to Newsit.gr and expressed doubts about the accused's guilt. "I don't believe the son did it, because all these years he had the opportunity to do it if he wanted to. I believe that someone else is the murderer," she said.
The woman also mentioned that Chatzidis had visited her a few days before his death. "He told me that some people living near him were harassing him, that they had beaten him and stolen from him. He was frightened, he wanted to go to the police, but he couldn't because he was ill," she said, adding that she believes the victim had cancer. "If something happened, I only think it happened in a moment of rage," she concluded.
Contradictory statements and security camera footage
The contradictory statements made by the accused — both to the police and to the media — regarding the manner in which he discovered his father and the circumstances of entry into the flat appear to have been crucial for the authorities. In his initial statements, the 36-year-old claimed that newly settled neighbours broke into the residence, robbed and killed his father — while stating that the latter had withdrawn money a few days earlier. The police, however, found the crime scene in a different manner from that described by the accused.
The authorities collected footage from security cameras located behind the Serres Central Public Library. In these four videos, two visits by the 36-year-old to his father's flat are recorded, within a period of six hours, on 30 and 31 July.
In the first video, dated 30 July, the 36-year-old arrives at the residence at 19:23 and remains inside for approximately 17 minutes. The next recording is placed at 01:30 on the morning of 31 July: on this occasion the accused appears to be carrying a bag with food — a detail that is consistent with his claim that he visited his father to bring him food. He remains in the flat for only six minutes and leaves holding not the bag, but a soft drink.
The 36-year-old had initially made no reference to the first visit on 30 July. When the police asked him about it, he reportedly replied: "I had forgotten about it."
History of family tensions
Neighbours of the apartment building reported hearing arguments between father and son. The accused himself admitted that there were tensions and that his father had reported him in the past for domestic violence, whilst emphasising that he loved him. The neighbour who spoke to Newsit.gr confirmed the difficult family history: "When he drank, the victim would cause a fuss, he would beat his wife too. They have been through difficult times."
Police investigations led to the issuance of an arrest warrant against the son. Despite his remand in custody, the 36-year-old continues to deny any involvement in his father's death. The local community in Serres is following the developments in the case with keen interest.
Source: Newsit.gr