A deeply disturbing child abuse case in central Greece has concluded with prison sentences for both parents of a severely injured infant, after a court found them guilty of repeated and deliberate harm.
The Mixed Jury Court of Lamia ruled unanimously that the 43-year-old mother and 47-year-old father were guilty of aggravated bodily harm committed repeatedly against their baby over a period between December 2022 and March 2023. The abuse took place in the town of Karpenisi, in the region of Evrytania.
The court sentenced the mother to 14 years in prison and the father to 12 years. Both appeals were denied suspensive effect, meaning they were taken into custody immediately following the verdict. The court also rejected any mitigating circumstances requested by the defence.
Child left with permanent neurological damage
During proceedings, prosecutors described a pattern of ongoing abuse and a complete lack of remorse from the parents. The court was told that their claim of being “incompetent parents” could not justify or excuse their actions.
Medical evidence presented in court revealed that the child now suffers from permanent brain damage and requires a medical drainage system in the brain for life. Doctors have not yet been able to determine the long-term prognosis for the child’s condition.
Prior history and investigation
The case also highlighted the father’s previous conviction for domestic violence against another child, as well as a past ruling in 2016 that removed parental custody from him and a former partner.
The abuse came to light after a pediatrician, following concerns raised by local social services in Karpenisi, identified an abnormal increase in the infant’s head circumference. Despite initial resistance from the parents, the baby was eventually transferred to a children’s hospital in Athens with the assistance of social workers and police.
According to court findings, further injuries were allegedly inflicted on the child even during hospitalization, prompting prosecutors to intervene and order the mother’s removal from the medical facility.
