The community on the Greek island of Syros remains in shock after a 42-year-old woman was fatally stabbed. She was rushed to the island’s hospital with knife wounds but later died from her injuries.
According to information available so far, the incident was preceded by an argument—reportedly for reasons that remain unknown—between the victim and the female tenant renting her property in Ano Syros, the island’s medieval hilltop settlement. During the altercation, the 30-year-old tenant’s husband appeared and stabbed the 42-year-old woman in the back.
The injured woman managed to flee despite bleeding heavily, but collapsed a short distance away. There are also reports that the couple chased her and threw various objects at her as she tried to escape.
Photographs taken outside the house where the attack occurred show pieces of a broken wooden chair scattered near the property.
Police: “They Claim They Acted in Self-Defense”
Speaking to Greek broadcaster MEGA, Hellenic Police spokesperson Konstantia Dimoglidou said investigators are trying to obtain surveillance footage to verify the suspects’ version of events.
“Police officers are trying to locate video footage to determine whether what the two suspects claim is accurate,” she said. “They allege that the woman who died came to their home and, without provocation, attacked the wife of one of the suspects. They claim they acted in self-defense. We need to establish whether that is the case.”
She added: “They say they acted in self-defense because, as I said, we cannot hear the victim’s account. We will have to determine through the forensic examination whether the victim did in fact attack first.”
Dimoglidou said investigators are also trying to establish what led to the confrontation.
“We have not been given information by the suspects explaining why the incident occurred. We are trying to determine how the three individuals knew one another,” she said.
She also confirmed that the 42-year-old managed to leave the house after being injured.
“She moved away while wounded and attempted to leave the property. However, it appears that the couple pursued her and attacked her again, causing very serious bodily injuries.”
Couple Claims Woman Attacked Them First
The case has taken a dramatic turn as the tenant and her husband were taken into police custody and questioned.
The couple claim they acted in self-defense, alleging that the 42-year-old arrived at their home with her face concealed and behaved aggressively.
According to their statements to police, the woman entered the house armed with a knife and tied the 30-year-old tenant to a chair in an attempted robbery. They said the husband returned home at about 5:20 p.m., struggled with the 42-year-old, took the knife from her, and then fatally stabbed her.
However, information emerging during the investigation appears to contradict the couple’s initial claims. According to those reports, the victim had gone to the house to collect unpaid rent owed by the couple, and that dispute allegedly sparked the initial argument.
Victim Was an Emergency Medical Worker and Mother of Two
According to information released so far, the victim was the mother of two children and worked for Greece’s National Emergency Medical Service (EKAB) on Syros, her hometown, while officially assigned from Athens.
She had been temporarily reinforcing Syros’ emergency medical service during the summer months, which explains why she was still wearing her EKAB uniform and protective gloves when she was taken to the island’s hospital.
The preliminary investigation is ongoing as authorities work to determine exactly what happened in the killing of the 42-year-old paramedic. Investigators are also examining whether there were eyewitnesses or other evidence that could clarify the circumstances of the attack.
