Just 18 days after her conviction for the death of 14-year-old Serena at the luna park in Almyros, the 80-year-old businesswoman is set to operate her rides again at the town’s August festival. Despite declaring herself retired during her trial, she was the only one to bid for the related tender, which she won by offering €27,000 in revenue to the Municipality of Almyros.
The woman was found guilty by the Mixed Jury Court of Karditsa for fatal exposure of a minor and conscious negligence leading to death. She was sentenced to eight years imprisonment with home confinement. Despite the prosecutor’s recommendation that the appeal should not have suspensive effect, the court ultimately accepted it, allowing the convicted woman to remain free until the final second-instance decision.
According to legislation, a tender cannot be awarded to a candidate convicted of crimes related to the tender’s subject matter, which is why a criminal record copy is required. Although she had previously been convicted for another accident, seven years have passed and the conviction no longer appears on her criminal record. The new conviction has not yet been judged at all levels of judicial review, therefore it is not final and consequently her criminal record remains clean. Therefore, she legally had no impediment to participate in the tender.
Strong reactions from Almyros residents over luna park – “Nobody should set foot on those death traps”
The reactions of Almyros residents are characteristic, who commented on a local newspaper post by Laos tis Magnisias about the luna park assignment and festival preparations: “Nobody should set foot on those death traps,” “You’re unacceptable if you assigned it to the same person, nobody should go,” “Is the one who got the luna park the same person? It would be good for the Municipality to build a small chapel where the girl was killed,” are some of the comments, indicative of the area residents’ reaction.
