In a pre-trial apology with a strong emotional charge, the 54-year-old man who executed 21-year-old Nikistratos in Ammoudara attempts to attribute his act to the mental breakdown that – he claims – followed the death of his 17-year-old son in a car crash in 2023.
He describes a life that he says has been “frozen” since the moment of loss, referring to a daily routine immersed in grief and isolation. “My life stopped on 20-10-2023,” he allegedly told the security officers, reflecting – he claims – his constant mental strain and the sense of deadlock he was experiencing. At the same time, he claims that the lack of any substantial progress in the judicial investigation of the accident was fuelling his anger and frustration.
From obsession to execution: the crime everyone feared and was not prevented
In his pre-trial apology, he allegedly also cited tensions with the victim, citing ironic behaviour and provocations that – according to him – further aggravated his already fragile psychological state.
He attributes a decisive role in the events to the specific day on which, returning from a memorial service, he was allegedly under intense emotional stress. The meeting with the 21-year-old, as he describes it, acted as a trigger. “I wasn’t myself,” she said, claiming that at that moment she lost control under the weight of intense emotions.
Execution of 21-year-old: at police station and 54-year-old’s wife as accomplice
Special mention is made of his wife, who is accused of being in the car with her husband and providing mental assistance in the commission of the homicide. According to what she claimed in her preliminary examination, she was with him in the vehicle at the time of the incident and reacted strongly, trying to prevent him from doing so, shouting ‘don’t Kostas, don’t’ in a state of panic. This evidence is put forward by the accused as an allegation that the act was not premeditated and unfolded in a matter of seconds.
The prosecutor and the investigator are expected, for security reasons, to go to the Heraklion Police Hall for the prescribed criminal procedure, namely for the prosecution of the couple and to give a deadline for their apologies.
C. Kokosalis: “I’m sure 17-year-old George would have been in tears too”
So shocked and the longtime lawyer of the Parasyri family, Mr. Kokosalis, shortly after the couple’s preliminary apology and before they are brought to justice, made the following statement while speaking to Cretalive.
“These are very difficult times for everyone… These are dark days and being aware of our role we should all be very careful in what we say. Kostas never managed to get over the death of his child… Along with 17-year-old George, he “buried” himself. A human wreck. His act, however, is reprehensible and, for God’s sake, it should not be imitated under any circumstances. We stand with pain in our hearts with the family of Nikistratos who lost his life unjustly, prematurely and violently, plunging them into anguish and devastation. I am sure that today 17 year old George would also be in tears… But the human mind often plays an ugly and dangerous game… Condolences to Nikitas’ family. We all ought to respect human life and justice, despite the pathologies of the system.”
Source: Evangelia Kareklaki / cretalive.gr
