With the re-examination of Christakis Antoniou, head of the ballistics laboratory of the Criminological Service of the Police Headquarters, the hearing procedure for the quadruple murder committed on the night of the 23rd of Agia on the night of I
The victims of the attack were businessman Fanos Kalopsidiotis, police officer Elias Hadjiefuthymiou, his wife Skevi Hadjieffthymiou and Yiani Vogli, one of the perpetrators.
Defendants are 42-year-old Loy Dejan, 39-year-old Marios Christodoulou, 38-year-old Benny, 28-year-old Panagiotis Pentavkas and XNUMX-year-old Sofia Grigoriou, who are jointly facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder, premeditated murder, attempted murder, and premeditated acts. bodily injury, possession of a B-class firearm, possession of a class A firearm, possession of a B-class firearm and possession of a class A firearm.
The four defendants were taken to the Criminal Court room, accompanied by armed MAAD police officers, who were by their side throughout the proceedings. The courtroom was filled with police officers from various services of the Force.
Answering questions from Michalis Pikis, Marios Christodoulos's defense attorney, the witness repeated many times that the 28 calibers found at the scene of the murder were shot inside one and the same weapon of the same caliber.
He reiterated that with the help of a police gunsmith, he carried out maintenance of the burnt Kalashnikov that was found in the burnt car allegedly used by the perpetrators of the murder and was located on Kataspilon Street outside Ayia Napa. He added that he carried out 7 test shots and compared the specific shells and projectiles with the 28 shells and 5 projectiles found at the scene of the murder. He also noted that despite his painstaking efforts, it was not possible to identify the 28 caliber and 5 projectiles with the Kalashnikov found in the burnt car.
To other questions of the lawyer, Mr. Antoniou answered that "I have not said that the burned weapon has nothing to do with the 28 shells and the 5 bullets that were found at the scene of the murder. I found some special features during the examination of the test 7 caliber and projectiles with the 28 caliber, however these were not enough to proceed to identification and to convince the Court that the burnt weapon is responsible for the 28 caliber that were found at the scene ".
He added that "it was not possible to identify the Kalashnikov with the 28 calibers because due to the large exposure of the weapon to the fire, traces and characteristics have been altered that would be imprinted on the calipers and projectiles."
In specific questions of Mr. Pikis, the witness stated that "I have never said that the burnt gun is not responsible for the shootings of the 28 calyxes that were found on the scene or has nothing to do with them. I said that it was not possible to connect the weapon with the specific calibers, due to its large exposure to fire, as it affected and altered the characteristics of the Kalashnikov ".
He also noted that "there were particular traces at the point of the ejector in the 7 test shells but they were not enough to lead me to the conclusion that they were shot by one and the same weapon".
To a relevant question, Christakis Antoniou answered that from his experience he can state that Kalashnikov exposure to fire can affect his special characteristics.
My position, continued Michalis Pikis, is "that in no case are the characteristics of the Kalashnikov altered by fire since it is a weapon made of hard and durable metal". The witness expressed his own position that "I have not identified any other independent traces of the 28 calyxes found at the scene to say that the burned Kalashnikov is not responsible for these calyxes."
I submit to you, continued Mr. Pikis, that the non-identification of the test cups with the 28 calibers found at the scene of the murder should lead you to the conclusion that this weapon is not related to the specific 28 calibers and the 5 projectiles of the case. .
Christakis Antoniou reiterated that he did not find any usable traces to proceed with identification, noting that "I am not saying that the weapon is not related to this case".
The hearing will continue tomorrow at 09.00 in the morning with new prosecution witnesses.
Source: KYPE