THESSALONIKI: Suspect in football-linked attack charged with murder, receives four year sentence

Thessaloniki, football murder

A 23-year-old arrested as a suspect for the football-motivated violence in Thessaloniki's Harilaou district, in which a 19-year-old was stabbed to death and two others were injured, was on Thursday charged with murder and attempted murder, committed jointly with others, after appearing before a Thessaloniki public prosecutor.

The man is accused of being one of a group that savagely attacked five youths with a sharp implement in the early hours of Tuesday morning, killing one and injuring two others, solely because of their support for a rival football team.

In addition to the above charges, the prosecutor also charged the 23-year-old with lesser charges that included assault and use of dangerous objects with the aggravating circumstances envisaged under the law for sports, as well as illegally carrying and using weapons.

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The 23-year-old then appeared before an examining magistrate, who gave him until Monday afternoon to prepare his testimony.

In the meantime, a second set of charges has been drawn up against him, which is linked to the police investigation in the wake of Tuesday's murder at a team fan association in the centre of Thessaloniki, where he is a member.

This involves a series of misdemeanour charges for which he was referred to the Thessaloniki police court, where he was taken after appearing before the examining magistrate.

They include running a sports fans' association without a licence, possession of items that can cause harm, possession of flares, illegal weapons possession and receiving the proceeds of crime.

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