A 38-year-old man accused of fatally assaulting his former father-in-law in the western Thessaloniki district of Evosmos was remanded in custody on Wednesday after appearing before an investigating magistrate.
The incident occurred on Friday night, while the 67-year-old victim died in the early hours of the following day at a local hospital. A forensic examination found that he had suffered severe traumatic head injuries.
The suspect, who had previously been engaged to the victim’s daughter, faces charges of intentional homicide as well as possession and procurement of narcotics for personal use.
According to judicial sources, the defendant told the investigating magistrate that he had been with the victim prior to the incident and that both had consumed alcohol and narcotics. He claimed an argument broke out after the 67-year-old allegedly insulted him, questioning his character and manhood.
The 38-year-old later claimed he could not recall what happened after the verbal confrontation, citing memory gaps, but maintained that he later attempted to revive the victim before calling police and emergency medical services.
Through his lawyer, the defendant requested an expert assessment to determine the extent of his alleged drug dependency.
Following his testimony, the investigating magistrate and prosecutor ordered his pre-trial detention.
The case comes as Greek authorities continue to report elevated – or better reported – levels of domestic and family-related violence. Recent incidents across the country have renewed scrutiny of intervention mechanisms, restraining-order enforcement and support services for victims.
Authorities have expanded specialized response units and emergency reporting channels, though officials and advocacy groups say serious cases involving former partners and family members remain a persistent challenge.
