Femicide in Igoumenitsa: The perpetrator blamed the crime on an argument, but arrived armed

After a failed attempt by the 27-year-old suspect to stage an alleged attack by masked men, followed by a series of contradictions and an awkward self-inflicted injury, Security Police officers in Igoumenitsa managed to obtain his confession to the murder of his 25-year-old former partner, whom he had broken up with a month earlier.

The suspect eventually admitted that he was the one who killed her. However, he claimed that the meeting at the bicycle path shelter had been arranged over an outstanding €2,000 financial debt between them and that he stabbed her after a heated argument.

The police, however, remain cautious about these claims as well, considering romantic rejection and disappointment a more likely motive. The suspect, who lived in Aigaleo and used to visit the young woman’s home while they were together, appears to have travelled specifically for the meeting, and even made sure to arrive armed with a pocketknife.

The timeline

Initially, police were alerted by a passerby who saw the lifeless, blood-covered body of the young woman at the bicycle path shelter. Shortly afterwards, the suspect himself called, claiming that they had allegedly been attacked by unknown individuals.

He was found in dense vegetation some distance from the victim, with injuries to his chest. From the outset, the officers suspected that these appeared to be self-inflicted wounds. He also had another, deeper injury that was not immediately detected, and as a result he had to be taken to hospital, where he remains under police guard.

During the examination of the scene, the forensic pathologist found at least 10 stab wounds to the victim, to her back and neck. She had also suffered defensive wounds to her hands, indicating the ferocity and intensity of the attack.

The suspect also confessed that he had thrown the murder weapon away somewhere shortly after leaving the shelter. Police located it and transferred it to the forensic laboratories for analysis.

The suspect was not found carrying his own mobile phone either, and investigators believe he may have thrown it away. Only the young woman’s mobile phone was recovered, and it will be sent to the forensic laboratories for analysis. An autopsy and post-mortem examination are also expected to be carried out.

The 27-year-old’s “performance” before his confession

After stabbing the young woman, the 27-year-old allegedly staged a robbery scene and subsequently claimed that they had met over a financial dispute, before eventually making a blunt confession that he had killed her.

The 27-year-old admitted that he struck the 25-year-old with a knife, causing her fatal injuries, while he is also believed to have inflicted injuries on himself.

The blunt confession

According to the Hellenic Police, the 27-year-old called the Operations Centre of the Thesprotia Police Directorate, claiming that he and the woman he was with had been attacked by unknown individuals. He also said that he had moved away from the scene and did not know exactly where he was.

Police officers located him nearby and, accompanied by them, he was taken by ambulance first to the Emergency Department in Igoumenitsa and then to Filiates General Hospital to receive first aid.

Approximately two to three hours later, while at the hospital, the 27-year-old reportedly confessed to killing the 25-year-old. “We argued and I lost control,” he reportedly said.

27-year-old granted deadline until Thursday

Late in the afternoon, an investigating magistrate and a prosecutor went to Filiates Hospital, where the 27-year-old remains under police guard.

According to reliable sources, he was charged with intentional homicide, domestic violence, and violations of weapons and narcotics legislation. The latter charge is reportedly related to three tranquilizer pills (Stedon) found in his bag.

The 27-year-old, who has verbally confessed to police to the killing of the 25-year-old, requested and was granted a deadline to give his formal statement on Thursday morning. He cited financial hardship and asked the judicial authorities to appoint a defence lawyer.