Life sentence for the gunman, 9 years for his accomplice for the murder at Psychiko

The two defendants charged with the murder of Panagiotis Stathis in Psychiko were found guilty by the Athens Mixed Jury Court.

By a 6–1 majority, three regular judges and three of the four jurors convicted the first defendant of intentional homicide and the second of complicity in the crime.

The defendants did not request any mitigating circumstances.

The 45-year-old perpetrator received a sentence of life imprisonment plus six additional years, along with a €7,500 fine. His accomplice was sentenced to nine years in prison.

The court ruled that their appeals would not have a suspensive effect. It also forwarded the trial records, forensic analyses, witness testimonies, and documents to the Athens Prosecutor’s Office to investigate possible involvement in the homicide of both a Mykonos real estate agent and an accountant.

Prosecutor’s stance

The prosecutor was unequivocally harsh toward both defendants, recommending their conviction.

She analyzed the case file in detail, arguing that the two defendants carried out the homicide as part of a “methodically planned” operation in exchange for payment—although the exact fee was never established.

She also recommended that the trial records be sent to prosecutors to examine the criminal liability of additional individuals who emerged during the proceedings as potential instigators of the crime.

According to the prosecutor, the 45-year-old’s motive was “easy money.” She noted:

“After his release from prison in 2021, he wanted to get back the lost years. He loves money and comfort and pursued enrichment. His motive must be sought in his desire for easy money.”

She described how the attacker approached Stathis’s car on a motorcycle, acted with intent to kill, fired a Glock pistol, and delivered shots to the victim’s face, chest, and limbs, causing fatal injuries to vital organs.

At the scene, 20 shell casings and 4 bullets were recovered.

The prosecutor stated that the calmness, precision, and close-range firing demonstrated a premeditated execution, not a random incident.

She dismissed the 45-year-old’s claim that he was at the OAKA sports complex at the time of the murder, noting that although the area is full of cameras, he did nothing to produce footage supporting his alibi:

“He never appeared at OAKA.”

Regarding the argument that the shooter fired with his right hand while the defendant is left-handed, she said the distance was so short that he could easily shoot with the other hand, especially given his firearms training. She added that surveillance footage even shows him struggling to switch pistols quickly because he wasn’t using his dominant hand.

Concerning the 48-year-old accomplice, the prosecutor said he clearly offered both material and psychological support to the perpetrator. The two men met during the Panagopoulos kidnapping case, and after the 45-year-old’s release, they maintained personal and professional ties.