New details have emerged in the investigation into the death of a baby in the Kypseli district of Athens, with statements given by the couple at the centre of the case raising further questions for authorities.
According to investigators from the Athens Sub-Directorate for Crime Investigation and Detection, "one of the two is lying" following the testimony of a 43-year-old man and a 38-year-old German woman in connection with the infant's death.
For a second time, according to reports, the couple failed to provide a clear explanation of the circumstances surrounding the child's death.
Both told investigators they were not at home on the day the baby died. That shared account has heightened police suspicions, with investigators reportedly convinced that one of the two is withholding the truth.
Identical accounts
According to reports, the mother told investigators:
"I returned home and the baby was dead. I was not there when it happened. I do not know how he died."
Investigators said her account was largely identical to that given by the 43-year-old man.
The man, who is reported to be the child's father, remains the principal suspect in the homicide investigation and is believed by investigators to be the person who inflicted the fatal knife wounds.
According to the same reports, his lengthy statement failed to convince police.
When questioned about the injuries, he allegedly replied:
"I was trying to break the ice with the knife."
Infant suffered more than 10 knife wounds
According to reports, the baby had more than 10 knife wounds to the back, which a forensic pathologist determined had struck vital organs.
Authorities say the couple have admitted that the body of the nine-month-old boy remained in a freezer for approximately two years.
When they learned that a police inspection was imminent, they allegedly transferred the body into a suitcase.
The case file has now been forwarded to prosecutors, who have filed criminal charges against both suspects and issued additional arrest warrants.
Among other offences, the pair now face charges including:
- Intentional homicide.
- Repeated false testimony.
- False testimony on a separate count.
Three children taken to Child House
On Wednesday afternoon, the three children found with the couple in a short-term rental apartment on Thasou Street were transferred from a children's hospital to the Child House facility for examination by the competent authorities.
The process took place in the specialised facility operated by The Smile of the Child, which accommodates abused children, and was conducted in the presence of psychologists.
Authorities hope the interviews may provide important information relevant to the investigation.
DNA results awaited
According to reports, police have not located legal identity documents for the three children.
Investigators are now awaiting the results of DNA testing to determine whether the children are in fact the biological children of the couple.
