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Fishermen acquitted in death of former minister Sifis Valyrakis
The Mixed Jury Court of Athens has acquitted two professional fishermen of joint manslaughter with intent in the death of Sifis Valyrakis, a former minister and prominent PASOK official. The verdict was reached with a 6-1 majority, with only the presiding judge dissenting and arguing for a guilty verdict.
The case dates back to January 24, 2021, when Valyrakis was found dead in the maritime area of Eretria. The prosecution had alleged that the defendants engaged in a dispute with Valyrakis and struck him with a wooden pole at least 2-3 times, causing him to fall into the sea where he subsequently sustained fatal injuries from boat propellers.
The trial lasted approximately one year and included over 60 sessions involving numerous witnesses and forensic evidence. While the prosecutor, Panagiotis Iliopoulos, argued that the evidence pointed to criminal behavior and abandonment of the victim, the court ultimately found the defendants not guilty. The defendants and their legal counsel have expressed relief, stating the verdict is a vindication of their innocence.
Entities
Eretria · Mina Papatheodorou-Valyrakis · Mina Valyrakis · Mixed Jury Court of Athens · PASOK · Panagiotis Iliopoulos · Sifis Valyrakis
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 8 SOURCES] The prosecution alleged the defendants used a wooden pole to strike the victim at least 2-3 times. www.ertnews.gr · www.thebest.gr · www.larissapress.gr · www.paraskhnio.gr · seleo.gr · +2 more
- [● 14 SOURCES] The two brothers faced charges of joint manslaughter with intent in a calm state of mind. www.ertnews.gr · epirusonline.gr · tempo24.news · www.thebest.gr · www.zarpanews.gr · +7 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] The Mixed Jury Court of Athens consists of three permanent and four lay judges for this verdict. www.ertnews.gr · www.thebest.gr · www.larissapress.gr · www.paraskhnio.gr
- [● 4 SOURCES] The prosecutor requested that the two brothers be found guilty. epirusonline.gr · www.tokarfi.gr · www.gazzetta.gr
- [● 13 SOURCES] The incident occurred on January 24, 2021, in the maritime area of Eretria. www.ertnews.gr · epirusonline.gr · tempo24.news · www.thebest.gr · www.zarpanews.gr · +7 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] The prosecutor alleged the defendants left the victim helpless in the sea and failed to assist in locating his body. fimotro.gr · www.flash.gr
- [DISPUTED] The presiding judge dissented, arguing that the defendants should have been found guilty. epirusonline.gr · tempo24.news · www.zarpanews.gr · www.neoiorizontes.gr · www.tokarfi.gr · +3 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] The Mixed Jury Court of Athens acquitted the two defendants with a 6-1 majority vote. epirusonline.gr · tempo24.news · www.zarpanews.gr · www.neoiorizontes.gr · www.tokarfi.gr · +4 more