The trial of the accused murderer of Kyriaki Griva began at the Mixed Orphan Court of Athens, with emotional testimonies from her father, Athanasios Griva. The hearing commenced with the defense filing a request for diminished responsibility, despite the accused having confessed to the murder.
Athanasios Griva, in his testimony, expressed deep anguish and anger toward the man who killed his daughter. He recounted how he first met the accused as his daughter’s boyfriend in 2019, but quickly grew suspicious of his behavior. ‘Kyriaki was my daughter. We had two children, now we have one. And here we are, trying to prove that this man is crazy,’ he said.
He described how the relationship between Kyriaki and the accused deteriorated over time, marked by psychological manipulation, financial control, and physical abuse. ‘He took her card, her money. He didn’t work, and when he did, it wasn’t serious. He even tried to convince me they could live off wedding and childbirth benefits,’ he added.
The court heard how Kyriaki had suffered bruises on her arms and how the accused would often isolate her emotionally. Despite this, she remained in the relationship, believing he would change. ‘All abusers do that,’ her father stated.
In a powerful moment, he admitted: ‘If I had known what he was doing to her, I would have cleaned him up myself.’
The accused sat with his head bowed throughout most of the proceedings while Kyriaki’s mother broke down in tears.
The defense, led by lawyer Spyros Dimitriou, argued for diminished responsibility, citing the accused’s psychiatric history and substance use. However, the prosecution countered that his actions were premeditated and that his dangerous nature does not equate to being unaccountable.
The court will continue hearing evidence, including expert testimonies, to determine whether the accused acted under disturbed mental state or if full criminal responsibility applies.