A 33-year-old French national has been charged with intentional homicide after deliberately hitting and killing a 36-year-old woman with his car on Crete on Wednesday.
Eyewitnesses in the town of Anopoli, Hersonissos, reported seeing the man drive directly into the woman, leaving her dead at the scene. His erratic behavior and conflicting accounts of the crime have raised serious concerns about the decision to discharge him from a local psychiatric clinic just six days earlier.
The suspect appeared at the Heraklion Courthouse on Thursday under heavy police security due to fears of backlash from the local community. The court postponed the hearing to Friday.
The victim’s brother, speaking to Greek media, vowed that the family would pursue justice for Rania, his sister. The family has filed a lawsuit, not only holding the perpetrator accountable but also demanding an investigation into the actions of the psychiatrists at Rethymno Hospital’s psychiatric clinic.
“The family wants to get to the bottom of this. They will not stop at the criminal accountability of the French suspect but are also demanding an investigation into the actions of the doctors,” said the family’s lawyer, Giorgos Kokosalis.
One psychiatrist stated on Greek television that while the man was suffering from severe psychological issues, he had not been deemed dangerous at the time of his evaluation.
Reports indicate that the suspect and the victim had no prior connection.
The woman’s funeral will take place on Friday.
