Mesolonghi: Supplementary Statement from the Butcher in Babis Koutrikos Murder Case – The Deletion of Calls and the Fateful Night

The accused butcher, who insists on his innocence in the murder case of Babis Koutrikos in Mesolonghi, remains in custody. On February 24, the detained butcher provided additional statements regarding the death of the unfortunate young man, whose body was found at the Kampo Euenochorion site in January 2024 after 18 days of search efforts. According to the newspaper Patris, the butcher claimed no involvement in the crime and declared his innocence. In his statement, he mentioned having a good relationship with the victim, meeting frequently when Babis returned to Mesolonghi for holidays. They would often go out for coffee or visit each other at the butcher’s shop daily. Their common interest was hunting, though they also socialized generally, going out for drinks and food. However, the last time Babis visited Mesolonggi, they did not go hunting but took a drive together on January 3, 2024, looking for hares just for fun. The investigation revealed that the butcher borrowed €6,500 from the victim and later repaid it. He denied borrowing €17,000 as claimed by the victim’s mother and another witness. The accused also admitted deleting all calls and messages exchanged with the victim on Messenger, citing phone memory issues rather than fear. During the fateful night, the butcher claims he picked up Babis, who had a hunting rifle, intending to hunt. However, he stated ignorance about the victim’s destination and denied arranging a hunting rendezvous. The investigation is ongoing, with the missing rifle remaining a crucial gap in the case. The Koutrikos family demands the full truth be uncovered.