The request of Tempi victim father on hunger strike, Panos Ruci, for toxicological tests to be conducted after his child’s exhumation is expected to be accepted by the judicial authorities within the day, media started to report since early afternoon on Monday, apparently citing government sources and not judicial ones or an official statement.
According to the same sources, the Larissa District Court Prosecutor’s Office will give the green light for toxicological tests to be conducted on the bodies of the victims of the Tempi tragic accident for which exhumation has been decided or will be decided upon the request of their relatives.
An official announcement from the Larissa District Court Prosecutor’s Office has been claimed to be expected during the day.
Panos Ruci and the families of three other victims have requested next to exhumation also toxicological tests to determine the exact causes of the deaths of their beloved ones.
Last week, authorities partly accepted Panos Ruci‘s request for exhumation but rejected the tests. On his part, the father rejected the exhumation that authorities had scheduled for upcoming Thursday, and continue the hunger strike.
Today Monday, the information leaked to the press.
Ruci’s lawyer Zoi Konstantopoulou told media right after the leak that they had no official information on the issue.
So far, the father continues his hunger strike that entered the 22nd day as nothing has been officially confirmed.
Meanwhile, also on Monday, Maria Karystianoy submitted one more request for exhumation and toxicological and other tests for her daughter Marthi.
The train crash tragedy in Tempi that killed 57 people on February 28, 2023 has turned into a public tool of immense pressure for the conservative government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis that wanted to avoid at any price and with often silly excuses and pretext the exhumation and further examinations on the bodies, thus strengthening people’s suspicion on cover-up.
The issue has ultimately triggers disagreements also among MPs of New Democracy, with at least two – the Defense Minister and one lawmaker – to have taken open position in favor of the relatives’ requests.
*thumbnail: Ruci and his lawyer
