A court case in Greece over the death of an 11-year-old boy struck by a stray bullet during a 2017 incident has been postponed once again, prompting renewed calls from his parents for witnesses to break their silence.
The trial, which began nearly nine years after the child’s death, was adjourned until May 5 due to the absence of key witnesses, according to court proceedings. The case is being heard in a mixed jury court.
Fatal stray bullet during outdoor celebration
The defendants, two men, are accused of firing guns into the air during a social gathering on June 8, 2017, in a residential area near Athens. One of the bullets reportedly struck the child inside his schoolyard, killing him instantly.
The incident has long been described by local media and residents as a devastating example of stray gunfire in a populated area.
Parents express anger over delays
The boy’s parents have voiced frustration over what they describe as repeated delays and the long wait for the trial to begin. They also criticized the conduct of those accused in the case.
Speaking after the latest adjournment, the child’s mother said the family had endured years of legal struggle and emotional hardship, describing the process as exhausting and painful.
The father made a public appeal for witnesses to come forward, saying that those who know what happened that night should no longer remain silent.
“People must speak up. We are no longer afraid,” he said, adding that many residents reportedly contacted authorities at the time but have not testified in court.
Courtroom tensions and witness testimony
Tensions inside the courtroom have been high, with emotionally charged testimony from witnesses and relatives of both the victim and the accused.
During recent hearings, a witness statement from the wife of one of the defendants sparked strong reactions from the court, including intervention from the prosecutor. She denied hearing gunshots on the night of the incident and said the family only learned of the tragedy the following day.
The prosecutor challenged her testimony, pointing to forensic evidence suggesting gunfire had occurred nearby.
Community still seeking answers
The case has deeply affected the local community, where classmates and friends of the victim have attended court hearings in support of the family. One witness, a former classmate present at the scene of the shooting, said he still hears gunshots in his memory years later.
Residents of the area have also expressed concern that little has changed since the incident, despite the passage of nearly a decade.
