They denied having any involvement in the murder of Giorgos Karaivaz in April 2021, the two defendants during testimony at the Athens Mixed Jury Court.
“My wife and I decided to open an office in 2019 for disinfection, blockades, etc. When I was reported for the murder of the journalist, looking at my diary I discovered that I had gone by van to the location to distribute leaflets. I tell them that I was driving them. They ask me if I gave them to my brother. I tell them that I don’t give a car to his brother, especially to him because I consider him an iron eater,” said the defendant, claiming that the police officers pressured him to say that the driver was his brother.
“I didn’t do anything illegal, I did everything with my own sweat”
The defendant denied the accusations against him, stating: “I have four children, aged 20, 18, seven and three. I have worked hard all my life to do what I did, I have not committed any illegalities.”
The second defendant, aged 41, also denied the charges and claimed that on that day he had gone with a friend to look at a truck they had bought with the intention of reselling it. In fact, a related photo that was posted on social media is also cited.
Karaivaz trial: CD with critical conversations destroyed… with a stapler!
“I would change my cell phone… if I had an illicit relationship”
“For me, my life is work and exercise. If we had been arrested 2 to 5 months later (including murder), we would have done a disqualification and we would know everything. The only thing that made me remember anything was the photo on Facebook. This photo was taken by my friend Antonis and not by me as an alibi as was said, it is unfair what was heard. The only photo we have of the truck was when we went to put up signs. I don’t remember what time it was. Lunch time. It must have been after 2:30 pm, he came to Nice and picked me up, either at my office or at my mother’s,” said the defendant.
The defendant denied having any connection with weapons, claiming that he “just went to the shooting range”, and said that he frequently changed his mobile phone for personal reasons.
“I want to tell you the truth, my life is at stake here, my children will be orphaned. On my personal phones or if I had an affair or something, what I did was change the numbers. Concluding his apology, the 41-year-old said:
“What do I have to do with national security? Our lives have been destroyed here, I talk, I work, I exercise, I make mistakes, they think I’m in Keratsini with the phone, but… I want justice, Mr. President,” said the defendant and added, in a tone of voice with a strong emotional charge: “I was slandered for having committed a robbery, my rights were violated, I was taken to Grevena prison, while I was at school and I didn’t fight with anyone… we didn’t do anything, we are innocent, this is unfair, we are ruined, we don’t know how to organize our work, tell me what I have to do, do it now, at my expense, let’s finish.”
The trial continues on Monday at the prosecutor’s proposal.