Greek Court Acquits Harboring Suspects, Orders New Probe into Murder Case

A Greek court has initiated a new phase of investigation into the murder of a 27-year-old man, the son of a Hellenic Police brigadier general, who was killed in Agios Dimitrios last April. The Three-Member Misdemeanor Court of Athens on Tuesday acquitted three defendants accused of harboring the perpetrator.

However, the court decided to forward the case files to the Athens First Instance Prosecutor's Office. This action is intended to investigate the potential criminal role of a 20-year-old man who was present with the perpetrator at Asyrmatos Park, where the victim was murdered. The prosecutor had previously suggested that this 20-year-old might face charges for simple complicity in intentional homicide.

Regarding the charge of harboring a criminal, the court, by a majority decision of 2-1, acquitted the primary defendant. Similarly, the court also acquitted, by a majority of 2-1, two 20-year-old women who were accused of harboring the criminal. Following the announcement of the verdict, tensions rose, with the victim's family directing verbal criticism towards the two acquitted women.