A court in Greece has sentenced the owner of a funfair in Halkidiki to life imprisonment over the death of a 19-year-old who was killed in a fatal ride accident in August 2024.
The Mixed Jury Court of Giannitsa delivered its verdict on four defendants after a months-long trial, finding all of them guilty in connection with the teenager’s death at the amusement park.
The 61-year-old funfair owner received a life sentence plus an additional eight years in prison for homicide with possible intent, both for the completed death of the 19-year-old and the attempted homicide of his younger brother, who was also on the ride at the time. No mitigating circumstances were recognized.
The owner’s 54-year-old wife, who was involved in managing the business, was sentenced to a total of nine years in prison for aiding homicide with possible intent. The court recognized the mitigating circumstance of genuine remorse.
The 23-year-old operator of the “Crazy Dance” ride received a six-year prison sentence for causing death through exposure to danger, exposure and minor bodily harm, with the court recognizing his young age as a mitigating factor.
The mechanical engineer who had issued operating safety certificates for the ride was sentenced to 13 years in prison for aiding homicide with possible intent and attempted homicide. No mitigating circumstances were granted.
The ruling sends the funfair owner back to prison, where he had been held in temporary custody since December 2024. The other three defendants were granted suspension of their sentences pending an appeal, under conditions including a travel ban. The engineer was also required to pay a €20,000 guarantee.
“Courts do not judge people, they judge actions,” the presiding judge said as she announced the end of the trial.
The decision was reached unanimously, with the court adopting the prosecutor’s recommendation regarding the defendants’ guilt. The verdict was followed closely by the victim’s parents and his brother, who was also on the ride during the accident.
The prosecutor had argued that the “Crazy Dance” ride showed extensive corrosion caused by years of wear and was unsafe to operate. According to the prosecution, the machine was a custom-built construction without proper safety standards, while maintenance work had not been carried out and the operator lacked sufficient training.
A separate legal case connected to the incident is also expected to proceed in December 2026, involving alleged offenses related to official duties by local government officials and other individuals.
