The Three-Member Court of Appeal for Felonies of Eastern Crete sentenced a 28-year-old Egyptian national to 10 years in prison for the fatal motorcycle collision that killed 23-year-old Maria in Malia, Crete, in September 2025. According to cretalive.gr, the defendant was convicted of dangerous driving resulting in death—the central charge in the case.
Additional Convictions and Penalties
The court also found him guilty of two misdemeanor offenses: illegal entry into Greece and leaving the scene of the accident. For these, he received an additional 17-month prison sentence—12 months for illegal entry and five months for abandoning the crash site. Notably, the appeal has no suspensive effect, and no mitigating circumstances were recognized. As a result, the defendant has been returned to custody immediately.
The Crash and Investigation
The collision occurred around 5:00 a.m. on or near 15 September 2025 on the road between Malia and Stalis. Both riders—a 23-year-old Greek woman and the 28-year-old Egyptian man—were operating motorcycles without valid driver’s licenses. The defendant’s motorcycle was uninsured and belonged to a friend who worked as a hotel security guard in the area; the defendant had borrowed it shortly before the crash.
According to his testimony during earlier proceedings, the defendant claimed he lost control due to a front tire malfunction. He stated he had taken the motorcycle only about 400 meters earlier to go to the nearest mini-market and had not yet built up speed at the time of impact.
Victim’s Family Reacts
Upon hearing the verdict, family members and friends of the victim erupted in applause outside the Heraklion courthouse, chanting “For Maria.” Earlier, on the day of his initial court appearance, Maria’s parents confronted the defendant outside the courthouse, shouting and hurling insults, holding him responsible for their daughter’s untimely death. Following his statement, both the investigating magistrate and the prosecutor supported his provisional detention.