Murder case in Chania: Confession following contradictory statements
A 43-year-old Albanian man has been arrested for the murder of a 45-year-old woman in Chania. Contradictory statements, video footage from cameras and DNA evidence led to his arrest and confession.
Murder case in Chania: Confession following contradictory statements
Police from the Chania Security Division have finally located the body of a 45-year-old woman, resolving a dark case in Crete. The family reported the disappearance of Stavroula Leventaki on 8 June, ten days after she had last been in contact with her relatives on 30 May. This time gap significantly hampered the investigation and allowed the perpetrator to dispose of evidence.
The attention of the prosecuting authorities turned to a 43-year-old man, an Albanian national, who had rented accommodation to the victim. A surveillance camera located near the victim's house recorded Leventaki heading towards the property, with no recording of her leaving it. On the same day, the suspect's vehicle appeared in the same footage. Investigators concluded that the perpetrator used that vehicle to move the body to a field, where he concealed it in the ground.
The 43-year-old was brought in for questioning and gave three different accounts to police. In the first two, his account presented continual contradictions regarding what had occurred on 30 May. In his initial statement he claimed that after a discussion about the rent, the tenant left on her own. In the second version, however, he completely changed his story, claiming they had gone out together for a short walk. Only in the third statement did he admit to the act.
Officials from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations carried out detailed searches both at the suspect's house and at his vehicle. Blood traces were found on an electrical appliance, the floor, a cleaning tool and inside the vehicle. At the same time, DNA samples were taken from relatives of the missing woman and from the suspect himself.
Laboratory analysis revealed with a very high degree of certainty that the biological material from the blood stains matched the profile of Stavroula Leventaki. The 43-year-old was arrested, admitted to the murder and indicated the exact burial location. Upon excavation, the body was found wrapped in plastic bags and bound with special fasteners.
Source: Kathimerini
Source: Google News GR — Crime (el)