Trial into 2021 death of historic PASOK cadre Sifis Valirakis begins

More than 4 years aft helium was killed while sailing successful his inflatable vessel disconnected the seashore of the seaside Evia edifice town of Eretria, the trial into the decease of Sifis Valirakis opened connected Tuesday aft galore delays and postponements.

Two nonrecreational fishermen, who are besides brothers, stand accused of sidesplitting the historical PASOK cadre and trying to screen up the incidental afterwards, successful a trial where astatine slightest 63 witnesses are expected to testify.

Taking the stand arsenic the archetypal witness, Mina Papatheodorou-Valiraki described her 77-year-old husband’s decease arsenic a “brutal crime,” dismissing claims that helium whitethorn person fallen retired of his vessel and been struck by its propellers. 

Valirakis’ assemblage was recovered connected January 21, 2021, respective hours aft his wife alerted the authorities that helium had not travel backmost from a regular outing connected his vessel to a clump of small islets adjacent Eretria, where the mates had a vacation location successful which they spent overmuch of the Covid lockdowns. According to reports, the assemblage showed signs of terrible caput and cervix injuries.

Witnesses person suggested that Valirakis became embroiled successful an altercation with the two suspects while astatine oversea and that they struck him with a wooden pole. They person been charged with murder. The brothers person denied immoderate engagement successful the incident.