A court in Athens sentenced on Tuesday the murderer of 28-year-old Kyriaki Griva to life imprisonment plus 5 years and a fine of 1,000 euros. The femicide victim was stabbed to death outside a police station on April 1, 2024.
The mixed jury court unanimously found 40-year-old Athanasios Kourelis guilty of homicide committed in a calm mental state, illegal possession and use of a weapon as well as of drug possession for personal use.
The court rejected his plea for diminished responsibility due to alleged mental health issues as he had claimed almost from the beginning.
In the eyes of the court, the victim’s family and the society he was guilty of premeditated murder of his former partner outside a police station on April 1, 2024.
Kyriaki Griva was stabbed to death outside the police station in Agioi Anargyroi suburb of western Athens, where she had gone to report Kourelis for abusive behavior and sought protection, something that several police officers denied to her.
Kourelis killed Griva with multiple stabs outside the police station entrance and just a couple of meters away from the station guard who was in his post.
The brutal femicide outside the police station as well as the officers’ behavior sparked an outrage in the Greek society.
Victim’s parents: Reactions
The victim’s parents, relatives and friends broke down in tears when the verdict was read and told the judges a “Big Thank you!”.
