The stepfather of Irini Mourtzoukou, Yannis Mourtzoukou, who raised her and gave her his surname, breaks his silence. In his statements, he reveals that Irini grew up in a difficult family environment, with a mother who, as he states, was indifferent and absent. He declares himself deeply shocked by her confession, as he had not perceived any sign that would foreshadow the tragedy. It is recalled that Irini Mourtzoukou has been held in Korydallos prison for the last 24 hours, having confessed to the murder of four children: her little sister, her two own children, and her friend Katerina’s infant. Her brother expresses intense concern about the situation while also placing blame on their mother.
Read: Amaliada: Testimonies begin regarding Panagiotakis’ death – Those implicated by Mourtzoukou speak
Irini Mourtzoukou’s stepfather lashes out: “Popi treated the children badly, she didn’t care about raising them”
Irini Mourtzoukou’s childhood years and her difficult relationship with her mother were commented on by her stepfather, Yannis, speaking to the camera on the show “Cases”. Specifically, he stated: “Popi was not a proper mother. She treated the children badly, she didn’t care about raising them. She was absent from home for many hours. She had put Irini in charge of raising her younger siblings and doing household chores from a very young age. If she didn’t do everything, Irini would get beaten. As long as Popi lived with me, she never worked. Popi had extramarital affairs and never cared about our children. She left at night and abandoned me for another man, taking the children with her. Since then they lived 200 kilometers away and I didn’t know what was happening“.
“Her confession is a shock to me – I can’t digest it”
Then, Irini Mourtzoukou’s stepfather expresses his shock at the confession, emphasizing that there were no signs that would foreshadow the tragedy: “It never crossed my mind that Irini could harm Zoi. Her confession is a shock to me. I can’t digest it. She hadn’t given any sign. I couldn’t imagine it. I don’t know who the father of Irini’s children is. We asked her and she wouldn’t tell us. She didn’t want to talk about this subject. In 2014, a few months after Zoi’s death, Popi took the children and left for Patras. Since then I saw the children 2-3 times a year. While we were a family, I worked two jobs to make ends meet. When they left, I lost contact and control. My mind can’t comprehend what has happened. I can’t believe it. I raised Irini like my own child. I tried to provide them with everything until the day Popi took the children and abandoned me. I don’t know any of those who appear on television from Achaia and Amaliada. I have been to that area only four times in total. Two of those were for my grandchildren’s funerals”.
Irini Mourtzoukou’s brother lashes out: “She won’t survive, my mother should go to prison too”
What she experiences in prison was commented on by her brother, Dimitris, speaking to the camera on the show “Cases”. At the same time, he counterattacks their mother, Popi. Initially, when asked if he misses his sisters, he said: “Yes, both of them. If I could do something and had money, I would have both of them here with me”. With a trembling voice he continued saying: “Irini has now despaired in there, she’s crying now where she sits. But I want now, I want my mother to go too, not just her alone”. At the same time, he seemed convinced that his sister won’t survive in prison, as he said: “No, Irini won’t be able to handle prison for so long. I’m afraid someone might kill her in there, or she might do something crazy to herself. She had said it, if something happens to her, she’ll cause great damage”.
