The investigating judge on the Greek island of Syros has ordered toxicology tests on the body of the 42-year-old paramedic who was fatally stabbed.
The decision followed testimony from eyewitnesses who described the woman as being in a state of extreme agitation shortly before the incident.
A key issue for investigators is whether the stabbing occurred inside or outside the house, as the answer could prove decisive to the course of the case.
According to witness testimony, moments before she died, the paramedic whispered the word, “Sorry.”
Three eyewitnesses—one Greek and two Swiss nationals—who were present at the scene where the paramedic died described a person displaying signs of extreme agitation.
Witnesses Describe Final Moments
The witness statements prompted the investigating judge to order toxicology testing on the victim.
The Greek witness said:
“I saw the 41-year-old on top of a person, trying to restrain them because that person had a very large knife. I noticed the person was in a state of extreme agitation and could not be subdued.”
He added:
“The homeowner removed the hood and scarf so the person could breathe more easily, and that’s when we realized it was a woman. We were surprised. Throughout the incident, the woman didn’t say anything at all. She only appeared to be in a highly agitated state, as if she had used drugs. Only at the very end, before she completely lost consciousness, she said ‘Sor…,’ and then she stopped responding.”
One of the Swiss witnesses also described what he saw.
“I went to the door and saw a woman lying on the steps with a man on top of her, restraining her. I told the man to be careful with the woman because I thought she might be a drug user.”
Defendant’s Response
Investigators are also examining the defendant’s reaction after realizing the intruder was a woman he had known since childhood on the island.
According to an eyewitness, the paramedic appeared to whisper an apology to the man.
Through his attorneys, the 41-year-old defendant told ANT1 television:
“I was attacked with a knife inside my home by a person whose face was concealed. I was trapped in a very confined space, with no possibility of escaping or defending myself and my wife in any other way. I pursued the person—who was unknown to me at the time—outside the house in order to restrain them, take the knife away, determine who they were, and immediately call the police and EKAB, which is exactly what I did.”
House Arrest Pending Court Decision
A disagreement between the investigating judge and the prosecutor over whether the 41-year-old should be held in pretrial detention resulted in a different outcome.
The defendant remains under house arrest until the Syros Judicial Council rules on the disagreement, while his wife has been released under restrictive conditions.
Investigators are now focused on the central question of the case: Where did the paramedic receive the fatal stab wound? The defense maintains it occurred inside the house, while investigators are also examining whether it may have been inflicted outside, where she ultimately collapsed.
The victim’s family has called for a full investigation into the circumstances that led the paramedic to act as she did. They have raised questions about whether she received a phone call beforehand or was acting on behalf of third parties, seeking to determine whether other individuals may have been involved.
