A Greek appeals court has sentenced Dimitris Vergos to life imprisonment for the 2021 murder of his girlfriend, Garifallia Psarrakou, during a holiday argument on the island of Folegandros.
The Mixed Jury Court in Syros delivered the unanimous verdict on December 11, 2025 — one day after what would have been the victim's 30th birthday — rejecting Vergos' claims of a psychotic episode and memory loss.
The court ruled that Vergos acted with full intent when he killed 26-year-old pharmacist Garifallia Psarrakou in July 2021. What began as a dispute over directions to a beach escalated into fatal violence.
Vergos admitted in his initial confession to becoming enraged, saying he "got angry and killed her" in a "bad moment." He deliberately drove their car off the road onto rocks, assaulted Psarrakou, dragged her across the terrain, and pushed her into the sea, where she drowned. Forensic evidence confirmed she was alive in the water but unable to escape due to her injuries.
After the killing, Vergos hid in a cave for more than 30 hours before police located and arrested him.
During the appeal, the defense argued Vergos was mentally unstable, citing paranoia, internal "boiling" sensations, and even referencing Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist to claim the universe "conspired" for the act to happen. Prosecutors dismantled this narrative, emphasizing Vergos' stable background — including military service, employment, and relationships — and his clear recollection of events surrounding the murder.
The court dismissed all requests for leniency, imposing the maximum penalty without mitigation.
Psarrakou's parents, who attended every hearing, stated outside the court that while no sentence can bring their daughter back, the ruling honors her memory and bolsters efforts to ensure no other family endures such a nightmare.
The family's legal team described the decision as a moral victory, emphasizing that unsubstantiated mental health claims or portrayals of extreme violence as momentary lapses cannot excuse femicide.
This high-profile case continues to spotlight concerns over gender-based violence and femicide in Greece.
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