Elderly Greek man fatally shoots brother after 25-year dispute; family claims premeditation
Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- An 86-year-old man fatally shot his 82-year-old brother in Trikala, Greece, following a 25-year dispute over their business.
- The suspect claims the shotgun accidentally discharged while he was cleaning it, but the victim's family believes it was premeditated.
- Police are investigating the incident, which has shocked the local community.
A family tragedy has gripped Trikala, Greece, after an 86-year-old man fatally shot his 82-year-old brother on Thursday. The incident occurred at the victim's home, and police are still working to determine the exact circumstances and timeline of the fatal event.
the murder is a consequence of the old dispute between the brothers.
The victim's family is in shock, telling trikalavoice.gr that the killing stems from a 25-year-old dispute between the brothers. Their business, in the construction sector, split 25 years ago, and their relationship never recovered, even though their children maintained contact and cooperation.
The alleged perpetrator reportedly called the police himself, claiming the shotgun, which he legally owned, accidentally discharged as he was cleaning it. He stated the weapon fired, hitting his brother in the side and causing a fatal wound. Police and ambulance services arrived at the scene, but the 82-year-old was already deceased.
the gun discharged on its own.
A neighbor recounted hearing the shots and finding the victim dead. She described the alleged shooter as calm, repeating that the "pellets" from the shotgun had caused the death. She attempted to check for vital signs, finding none, and called for an ambulance. The victim was transported to the hospital, where his death was confirmed.
he had pellets
The victim's family lawyer, Dimitris Samartzis, stated that evidence suggests the act was premeditated, not an accident as the suspect claims. He noted that the 86-year-old owned a shotgun, though he was not known to hunt. The family believes the suspect waited for the victim at the entrance of the apartment building where the tragedy unfolded. The victim's son reportedly moved against his uncle upon realizing what had happened.
the act was not the result of an accident, but a premeditated action.
Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.