Greek authorities continue their investigation into the death of a 3-year-old girl whose body was found on a beach in southern Athens, as her mother—accused of murder—prepares to testify before an investigative judge this Wednesday, August 6.

The 32-year-old Algerian woman remains in custody at the Flisvos Coast Guard station in the coastal suburb of Palaio Faliro. She maintains the child’s death was the result of a domestic accident, not a deliberate act.

Contradictory Statements

According to Greek public broadcaster ERT, investigators have identified inconsistencies in the mother’s testimony. In one account given to coast guard officials, she claimed the child “fell and hit her head in the bathroom,” lost consciousness, and appeared to be dead. She said she then dressed the child in a swimsuit and took her to the beach.

She reportedly added, “When we got to the beach, I held her, walked into the sea until I couldn’t touch the ground anymore, and then let her go.”

However, during a separate pre-investigative statement to police, she claimed the child’s body was warm and her heart was still beating when she left her in the water.

Two Conflicting Versions of Events

Authorities say the woman has offered two conflicting versions of what happened during her final moments with the child. In one version, she described leaving the child’s lifeless body in deep water and walking away. In another, she claimed she entered the sea in an attempt to revive her daughter, but the child slipped from her arms at the last moment.

Investigators are now turning their attention to the girl’s two young siblings, who are currently in hospital care under close observation by doctors, nurses, and child psychologists. Their testimonies are expected to be crucial in clarifying the circumstances surrounding the incident.