A 54-year-old man from Crete has been charged with murder and firearms offences after allegedly fatally shooting a 21-year-old driver he blamed for the death of his son.
Authorities allege the man ambushed the victim in his car near Iraklio on Tuesday before surrendering to police. His wife, who was allegedly present during the attack, has also been charged.
Police are holding the suspect under tight security amid concerns the killing could spark retaliatory violence in a region where family vendettas and so-called honour killings remain socially accepted in some communities.
According to reports, the suspect held the victim responsible for a 2023 traffic crash in which his 17-year-old son was critically injured after the car he was travelling in struck a lamp-post. The teenager died after almost three weeks in hospital. The two young men were reportedly friends.
Authorities said the accused had allegedly attempted to kill the victim on at least two previous occasions and had been prohibited from approaching or contacting him.
Defence lawyer Giorgos Kokosalis said his client regretted his actions and appealed for calm.
“We want this circle of blood to close here,” Kokosalis said.
“By no means would I want to make a hero of the one side, but neither to condemn the other from the outset … [The suspect] never managed to get over his son’s unexpected death. And with his son, he himself died.”
Source: Ekathimerini.
