Daskalakis Murder: Accused Deny Involvement, Demand Proof of Criminal Act

Three individuals accused in the murder of Alexandros Daskalakis, the 49-year-old president of the Apessokari community in Crete, have denied all involvement. The defendants, a 57-year-old livestock farmer, his 32-year-old son, and a 69-year-old shepherd, appeared in court on Sunday, June 14, 2026, for their testimonies.

Their defense lawyer, Giorgos Kokossalis, stated that his clients have no connection to the case. While there was disagreement between the investigating judge and prosecutor regarding the pre-trial detention of the 57-year-old father, his son and the shepherd were remanded in custody. Kokossalis asserted that his clients detailed their movements on the day of the incident, with the son claiming he never left home and the father maintaining he followed his usual routine.

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this case file has no legs to stand on.

Kokossalis strongly criticized the ongoing investigation, describing the case file as "incomplete" and the police preliminary investigation as prematurely halted. He suggested that external pressures may have influenced the abrupt end of the investigation, which he believed was at a critical stage. The lawyer also pointed to a private investigation conducted by Daskalakis's former son-in-law, who reportedly found items that were handed over for examination before the official inquiry was suspended.

The defense is challenging key aspects of the prosecution's case, arguing that evidence stems from older complaints rather than direct proof linking the accused to the incident. They question the presence of the 32-year-old at the scene and deem video evidence of the father's flock insufficient. The lawyer attributed the case's progression to intense media attention, which he believes led to hasty decisions. Alexandra Spanaki, another lawyer for the 57-year-old and 32-year-old, also raised concerns about the incomplete case file, stating there is no objective evidence connecting the individuals to the time, place, or motive, and that the mechanism of death remains unclear, questioning if it was a criminal act.

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it is not confirmed as a criminal act.