The Athens Mixed Jury Court of Appeals imposed a life sentence for the heinous murder of the young student, Eleni Topaloudi, and 15 years for her gang rape.
The audience reacted with applause when the verdict was read, prompting the presiding judge to exclaim, «Please! This isn’t a play!».
The Court of Appeals followed the lower court’s decision to the letter; the lower court had imposed exactly the same sentence on the defendants without granting them any mitigating circumstances.
In addition to Magda Fyssa, the mothers of Garifallia and Erato, who lost their daughters at the hands of their partners in Folegandros and Mytilene.
Eleni Topaloudi's Mother: I Feel Partially Vindicated
After the trial ended, Helen’s mother said: «I feel partially vindicated, but not entirely. They’ll serve 20 years and then be released. We need changes to the Penal Code right now. I implore the Prime Minister to listen to us, the mothers of the murdered children. It’s not right that only the murderers have rights.».
On the other hand, the victim’s father, Giannis Topaloudis, said: «This is only a momentary sense of justice. It was the maximum sentence that could be imposed. Such heinous crimes should be punished with the harshest possible sentences, no matter how long the prison terms may be.».
No mitigating circumstances were found for the two men in the gang rape and femicide of Eleni Topaloudi
Earlier, the Athens Mixed Jury Court of Appeals did not recognize any mitigating circumstances for the two perpetrators of the heinous murder and gang rape of Eleni Topaloudi, thereby accepting the recommendation of the presiding prosecutor.
The defense requested that the mitigating circumstances be recognized.his previous law-abiding life, his subsequent good conduct, his post-adolescent age, his sincere remorse after the act, and the violation of the reasonable duration of the trial.
According to the prosecutor, theThe defendants do indeed meet the age requirements, but «it appears that, based on the manner in which the crime was committed, its planning, the systematic nature of the actions, and the disregard for the legal order, », the act cannot be attributed to post-adolescent immaturity.". Specifically, he described their behavior as «a deliberate choice as part of a criminal plan,», which «It took place in order to satisfy their sexual urges in a perverse manner and to cover up their criminal act.».
As the prosecutor said, There was no evidence of remorse or emotional distress regarding the act. «It was a token apology intended to create the conditions for granting that specific mitigating factor,» he said pointedly, adding that they had been on the run for a week.
Eleni's parents lost their temper
Just as the defense attorney for the first defendant, in his closing argument regarding sentencing, described the homicide as «not a heinous crime,» Eleni’s parents and the audience erupted in outrage.
«You’re defending a murderer! What are you talking about? Shame on you! Those little brats, those monsters—listen, it wasn’t that horrible,» were some of the things heard inside the courtroom. The shouts of those who reacted continued into the courthouse hallways as they were led out of the courtroom to calm down.
