The 40-year-old woman from Koropi, a suburb southeast of Athens, who was severely beaten by her partner last month, has filed a request for custody of her children, seeking legal protection for herself and her two young sons.
On Monday morning, the woman — identified only as Agnes, originally from Lithuania — submitted her application to the Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office.
“My only concern is the safety and well-being of my children and myself,” she said. “I have no wish to protect the man who attacked me and almost cost me my life. I do not want any contact with him because I fear for our safety.”
Her lawyer added that Agnes is still recovering from her injuries and has not yet fully regained memory of the assault, though her eldest son, aged three years and ten months, reportedly told her, “It was dad who hit you.”
The woman’s father also voiced concern for his daughter’s safety, describing the attack as a “horrific crime” that nearly claimed her life.
“Her life and the lives of her children are still in danger,” he said. “They must be protected from the man who tried to kill her.”
The attack and aftermath
The assault took place in the family home, with both young children — aged four years and three and a half months — present. Agnes was hospitalized in critical condition and intubated for eight days at the Red Cross Hospital in Athens.
The 50-year-old suspect, her partner, is currently in pre-trial detention, facing charges of attempted murder and causing bodily harm to minors, as he allegedly also struck one of the children during the attack.
Authorities have confirmed that the man had a prior record of domestic violence, having been arrested in 2023 for assaulting the same woman.
Agnes, who is now gradually recovering, is reportedly beginning to remember the events of the attack, while seeking to rebuild her life and secure a safe environment for her children.
