The family’s attorney, Maria Kazantzaki, speaking exclusively to parapolitika.gr, expressed her belief that the fatal stabbing that claimed the life of the 42-year-old paramedic on the island of Syros did not occur inside the residence, but rather during the pursuit of the victim. She noted that the family’s position was formed after evaluating the video footage included in the case file, in combination with the findings of the forensic examination.
Read also: Syros: “The 41-year-old’s blow was highly aggressive, not defensive,” says family’s attorney
“On behalf of the family, we have formed the conviction, based on the material submitted to the investigative process, that the fatal injury most likely resulted from an attack by the perpetrator and not from a defensive stance. It most likely occurred outside the residence and certainly during the pursuit,” she stated.
Syros paramedic murder: “Self-defense ends when the other person flees”
Ms. Kazantzaki argued that even if any prior incident inside the house were to be considered, from the moment the 42-year-old fled the residence on foot, there can no longer be any legitimate claim of self-defense.
“Self-defense ends the moment the person being attacked turns and flees. No one can dispute that the deceased turned and ran, and therefore no one can dispute that the accused pursued her,” she noted.
“She shows no signs of injury as she leaves the house”
Referring to the video footage, the attorney pointed out that the 42-year-old, up until the moment she left the residence, did not — in the family’s assessment — appear to be someone who had already sustained such a serious wound. “As she exits the residence, she does not appear to be in pain, injured, or in any distress. Her movements are quick, fluid, and sharp,” she stated, adding that the contested stab wound to the back does not appear in any available video footage.
Awaiting evidence from the lifting of communications privacy
Ms. Kazantzaki emphasized that the family still does not know the motive behind the attack and is refraining from drawing conclusions until the investigative process is complete. “We cannot yet know the motive. However, we believe it will emerge from the evidence currently being gathered. What is being criminally assessed today is a fatal stab wound to the back,” she stressed.
She further underlined that the family continues to await the results of the lifted communications privacy order, as well as the remaining evidence being collected as part of the investigation.
“We want to understand what really happened. We want the truth,” she concluded.
Official statement from the family’s attorney in the Syros case
It should be noted that the family’s attorney earlier released an official statement commenting on what has been made public. “The victim’s family, following the evaluation of the audiovisual material included in the case file — which was leaked to the press a few hours ago — finds that, regardless of the reason the deceased visited the suspects’ residence, the time she remained inside was infinitesimal: exactly seven (7) seconds.
By common sense, within those seven (7) seconds, a person taken by surprise cannot carry out all the alleged defensive actions that the alleged perpetrator is said to have performed.
In the same video, the deceased is clearly seen exiting the suspects’ residence swiftly and with great agility — bending down effortlessly to grab her backpack with her right hand (the same side where the fatal blow landed), moving with notably quick and nimble motions, descending the courtyard steps two at a time at a sprint, showing not the slightest sign of discomfort, pain, or injury. It begs the question how she is capable of such movements if the blow was delivered inside the residence.
Up until the point she moves away from the suspects’ residence, being pursued by the alleged perpetrator, she shows no sign whatsoever of being injured.
On the contrary, the audiovisual material reveals that he, rather than being frightened by the supposed intruder, confidently and boldly runs after her, hurling a chair at her with force — which the deceased likely managed to dodge, as it shattered against a wall (had it struck her, her body would have prevented it from breaking apart) — and continues to pursue her at speed, clearly holding a knife (green in color) in his hand.
It is therefore far more probable that, while pursuing her with this knife and no longer acting in self-defense but rather attacking her, he delivered the fatal blow outside the residence, some fifty to seventy meters away from it.
Such a blow is in no way defensive — it is highly aggressive in nature, and as has been proven, tragically fatal. According to the forensic report, her death was caused by ‘chest injuries from a sharp and cutting instrument.’ The report concludes that the stab wound was the fatal blow that took her life, as it caused a puncture to the lung.
The family of the deceased seeks justice for the unjust loss of their beloved daughter and places full trust in the Greek justice system to deliver it,” the statement reads.
Both suspects to appear before the examining magistrate — funeral held today
It is recalled that the 41-year-old suspect and his 30-year-old wife, who are charged with the murder of the 42-year-old paramedic on Syros, are expected to appear before the examining magistrate today, Tuesday, July 28, to enter their pleas, as authorities continue their full investigation. Meanwhile, family and friends will bid their final farewell to the 42-year-old today in Ermoupoli, Syros.
