The trial over the tragic death of 17-year-old Aggelos, who allegedly died as a result of a violent beating by a peer in Serres last January, was adjourned to Thursday afternoon (25/06) at 2:00 PM. A 16-year-old defendant is facing the serious charge of premeditated murder before the Three-Member Juvenile Court of Serres. Prior to the trial, the minor had been held in pretrial detention at a specialized juvenile detention facility in Volos.
The opening of court proceedings unfolded in an atmosphere of profound grief and intense emotion. From early in the morning, a large crowd of relatives, friends, and ordinary citizens responded to the call of Aggelos’s family, gathering in a silent vigil of solidarity outside the Serres courthouse. His brother took to social media to urge the people of Serres to stand by the family, writing: “This is the first trial for the murder of our little brother. The main defendant is being tried — someone who, over a girl, robbed us of our entire world.”
Fearing potential incidents, Greek Police (ELAS) had put extensive security measures in place. Strong units from the Security Services and the OPKE special forces remained on standby throughout the day around the courthouse perimeter, in order to maintain order and prevent any possible confrontations.
The timeline of the fatal beating of 17-year-old Aggelos
On the eve of Epiphany, security camera footage captured the 16-year-old defendant moving toward the central square of Serres alongside two friends. In his statement before the investigating magistrate, the 16-year-old admitted to landing “two or three punches and a knee strike” on the victim, following an altercation that had been sparked by a dispute over a girl.
According to the forensic report, the victim sustained extensive injuries across multiple areas of his body. Bruising was recorded on the forehead, ears, around the eyes, lips, chest, hands, fingers, and lower limbs. Dried blood was also found in the nasal area, while abrasions were noted on the chin, neck, collarbone, chest, elbows, wrist, back, and waist.
Evidence from the case file and witness testimonies are said to converge on the conclusion that the 17-year-old adopted a primarily defensive posture during the attack, without offering any meaningful resistance.
