Femicide in Rodopi: Children's testimonies reveal years of abuse

The nation is in shock following revelations of a new femicide in Rodopi, Greece, where a 53-year-old man has confessed to murdering his 44-year-old wife. The perpetrator brazenly claimed he killed her "on his nerves," a justification that masks a history of alleged long-term abuse within the confines of their home in the village of Dialampi.

Behind this facade of domesticity, the victim reportedly lived through a years-long nightmare of threats and systematic mistreatment. The harrowing testimonies of the couple's three children to the police have corroborated the horrific reality their mother faced at the hands of her father. These accounts paint a devastating picture of the abuse she endured.

The children, despite being in shock, found the strength to speak with investigators. Their statements are damning, confirming the systematic and chronic abusive behavior their mother suffered from their father. They revealed that her decision to work away from home was not solely due to financial difficulties but also a desperate attempt to distance herself from her husband and avoid his violence.

Reports indicate that in recent years, the victim had appeared at her workplace with bruises on her face, a consequence of the alleged violence by the 53-year-old confessed perpetrator. According to the victim's lawyer, Evangelia Kola, she had decided to divorce him and had scheduled an appointment for August 27 to file the divorce papers.

The lawyer stated that the children are "still in shock" and appealed for respect for the victim's memory and the children's privacy, urging media not to publish photos of the victim or her children. Kola also noted that various organizations and authorities have already contacted her to offer support, including housing, to the children.