Μake us preferred on Google The funeral of 25-year-old Penelope, who was killed in the northwestern Greek city of Igoumenitsa by her 27-year-old former partner, was held on Wednesday.
The funeral service took place at 11 a.m. at the Church of Saints Constantine and Helen in Metamorfosi, a northern suburb of Athens, followed by her burial at the Metamorfosi Cemetery.
The 27-year-old suspect remains under guard at a hospital and is expected to appear before judicial authorities on Thursday, September 24, to give his account of what happened.
The victim’s family has asked mourners to make donations instead of sending funeral wreaths, with the money to go to Diotima Center, an organization supporting women who have experienced abuse.
Forensic examination finds 15 stab wounds
A forensic examination of Penelope’s body was completed Tuesday at the Forensic Medicine Service in Ioannina.
According to information cited in the report, forensic pathologist Ioannis Aivatidis found 15 stab wounds across the 25-year-old’s body.
She also had defensive injuries to her hands and leg, indicating that she tried to protect herself from the attack.
Two deep wounds to her neck were fatal, causing severe blood loss. Penelope, who worked as a biologist, also suffered seven stab wounds to her back, which caused injuries to vital organs, including her liver, left lung and stomach.
The wounds were inflicted with a 7.5-centimeter folding knife, according to the report.
27-year-old faces multiple charges
The 27-year-old is facing charges including intentional homicide, domestic violence, and violations of weapons and drug laws, according to information available so far.
The drug-related charge is connected to three Stedon sedative pills found in his possession.
On Monday, an investigating magistrate and prosecutor went to the hospital, where the charges were formally presented to him. He was then given time to prepare his defense. His questioning before the judicial authorities is scheduled for Thursday.
He remains hospitalized under police guard.
Investigation continues
Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Penelope’s killing.
The 27-year-old has admitted to the killing, although he initially told authorities that he and Penelope had been victims of a robbery.
As the investigation progressed, however, his account reportedly contained contradictions.
Penelope’s body was found in a gazebo near the bicycle path in Igoumenitsa, while the 27-year-old was found injured nearby and taken to Filiates Hospital.
Authorities are also examining communications and data from the two people’s cellphones to establish what happened before their fatal encounter and determine the motive for the killing.
Public demonstration in Igoumenitsa
Penelope’s killing has prompted strong reactions in Igoumenitsa.
On Tuesday afternoon, people of different ages gathered at the city’s Town Hall Square following a call by the Igoumenitsa Women’s Initiative.
Carrying banners and chanting slogans, demonstrators expressed their anger and grief over the killing.
Among the messages heard at the demonstration were “Anger and grief, no one else should be lost” and “Not one less, no more women murdered.”
The Women’s Initiative also read a statement condemning gender-based violence and rejecting expressions such as “bad moments,” “crimes of passion” and “clouded minds” when describing such incidents.
“We will not get used to terror, we will not remain silent counting wounds and murdered women. We turn grief into anger and fear into collective action in the streets,” the group said.
The initiative also called for the term “femicide” to receive legal recognition.
