A 43-year-old from Heraklion, who at first instance he was sentenced to 13 years in prison for manslaughter with possible intent against his 31-year-old partner in November 2019.
The Mixed Court of Appeal of Eastern Crete today, Tuesday, changed the charge of homicide to grievous bodily harm and sentenced the accused to 10 years in prison. At the request of the defense, the medical examiner who drew up the death certificate was also called to testify in court.
According to the 43-year-old’s defense attorney, Mr. Manos Christofakakis, “was pivotal as it clarified that death was caused by a violent shaking of the head and not by blows from punches. This was what my principal was advocating from the very beginning.”
The 43-year-old initially insisted that he loved his girlfriend and never punched her, as alleged in the indictment.
When he found out that his girlfriend had been secretly using drugs, he was upset, he claimed, because they had agreed to get sober.
He grabbed her by the blouse and jerked her hard. But the girl was a helpless and “fragile” creature due to the very serious health problems she was facing, as a result of which she eventually lost her life
