The trial surrounding the fatal beating of 64-year-old Nikos Mastrantonis concluded last week in Nafplio. The incident occurred in July 2024 in the central square of Agios Petros, Arcadia, following a baptism ceremony.

A year after the incident, the case was brought before the Mixed Jury Court of Nafplio. On Wednesday, the court delivered its verdict. By a majority decision—four jurors against three professional judges—the court downgraded the charges against the two defendants, a 41-year-old man and his 35-year-old partner, from premeditated homicide to fatal bodily harm. This lesser charge implies intentional physical harm, but with death resulting from negligence rather than intent.

This reclassification significantly reduced the sentencing framework. Each defendant was sentenced to nine years in prison, aided by the court’s recognition of their previously lawful conduct as a mitigating factor.

However, the pair will not serve prison time for now, as the court ruled that their appeal would have a suspensive effect. They were released under strict conditions, including a ban on leaving the country, a prohibition from entering Agios Petros, mandatory check-ins with local authorities, and a €15,000 bail imposed on the male defendant, Kanatas.

The decision was not unanimous. The three professional judges and the public prosecutor maintained that the original charge—intentional homicide committed in a calm state of mind and with potential malice aforethought—should stand. They argued the evidence supported the prosecution’s case.

The trial lasted five days and included testimony from 11 witnesses, seven of whom were eyewitnesses present in the village square at the time of the incident. According to their accounts, the victim had been standing near the defendants’ car and did not display any threatening behavior. The confrontation reportedly began after a verbal exchange, escalating when the 41-year-old defendant allegedly placed the victim in a headlock, causing both men to fall. Witnesses said the defendant then began kicking the 64-year-old, including at least one kick to the head. The woman allegedly exited the car and also kicked the victim while he lay on the ground, defenseless.

The couple reportedly fled the scene immediately afterward. Witnesses stated the victim lay motionless, with his dentures found nearby. The autopsy attributed his death to a subarachnoid brain hemorrhage.

Later that evening, the male defendant returned alone to the square. Eyewitnesses testified that he was overheard saying on the phone, “I’ve got him here playing dead.” A relative reportedly urged him to go to the hospital, as the victim was being transported by ambulance. Instead, the 41-year-old went to the Astros Police Station to claim that the victim had sexually harassed his wife. Police, already informed of the attack, arrested him there.

In their defense, both defendants claimed that the victim had harassed them earlier in the evening and had attacked them inside their car.

Appeal Looms Amid Family Outrage

The court’s ruling has triggered outrage among the victim’s family, who are now awaiting the case’s review by the Court of Appeal.

Speaking to protothema.gr, Dimitris Georgakopoulos, the family’s attorney, expressed deep concern over the jury’s role. “It’s troubling that four citizen-jurors made a purely legal decision—downgrading the charge—against the view of the three professional judges and the prosecutor, all of whom concluded that this was a case of intentional homicide,” he said.

Due to this significant division between lay jurors and legal professionals, the case will now move to the Joint Court of Appeal for further examination.