Caroline Crouch's father hits out at 'weasel' husband who killed her
The father of murdered Briton Caroline Crouch has described his daughter’s killer as a ‘weasel’ as details emerged that Babis Anagnostopoulos will blame her for the claiming she ‘mistreated’ their baby and kibris bahis siteleri that he acted in ‘self-defence’ because of her martial arts skills.
Anagnostopoulos, 33 will appear before an Athens court on Friday where he stands accused of murdering Caroline Crouch, 20, as she slept, her pet dog Roxy and two counts of perverting the course of justice.
He then concocted an elaborate ruse that the killings occurred during a botched burglary.
Caroline’s heartbroken father, David Crouch is unable to attend the high-profile hearing as he is ill but her mother, Susan Dela Cuesta will be there and is expected to give evidence during the trial.
Anagnostopoulos’ lawyer confirmed to MailOnline that a key part of his defence is that Caroline ‘triggered’ him into a ‘fit of rage’ after she violently pushed a crib in which their then 11-month old daughter Lydia was sleeping.
Anagnostopoulos, 33 (R) will appear before an Athens court on Friday where he stands accused of murdering Caroline Crouch, 20, (L) as she slept, her pet dog Roxy and two counts of perverting the course of justice (the couple’s daughter Lydia is pictured centre)
Prosecutors claim that the murders were pre-meditated and that Anagnostopoulos also be given a life sentence for killing Caroline
Anagnostopoulos’ lawyer confirmed to MailOnline that a key part of his defence is that Caroline ‘triggered’ him into a ‘fit of rage’ after she violently pushed a crib in which their then 11-month old daughter Lydia was sleeping
David Crouch, Caroline’s father, said the killer’s defence is unlikely to stand given Caroline is believed to have been asleep for some time prior to her death
Mr Crouch, 78 a retired engineer who was born in Liverpool, fumed: ‘I understand that Babis will use as his defence that he was provoked by Caroline and he was acting in self-defence.
‘He will also cite her martial arts skills.This is not likely to fly as she had been asleep for several hours when he killed her.’
He added: ‘I just wish I could get my hands on the little weasel.’
Last year after Anagnostopoulos was initially arrested just hours after crying crocodile tears at Caroline’s funeral and hugging her mother, Mr Crouch said he would have ‘blown his head off’, there and then if he knew the truth.
Mr Crouch, who lives on the island of Alonissos, explained how his illness would keep him from the trial and said:’ It would be impossible for me to tolerate the journey to Athens although Susan will go.
‘I will stay here and look after Lydia.’
Mr Crouch and Susan were given custody of baby Lydia last year following a ruling by a Greek court.
He added: ‘She is into everything and with the most winning smile.’
Alexis Papaioannidis, Anagnostopoulos’ lawyer told MailOnline: ‘There is no doubt that the couple was going through a rough patch and that it wasn’t the first time they were embroiled in a heated exchange.
‘But it was that night when Caroline turned ever more abusive, violently pushing the crib to the side, that set off Babis.’ He thought, ‘Lydia is in danger.’
Helicopter pilot Anagnostopoulos initially claimed that robbers broke into his home and killed Caroline and her dog Roxy, attacked him and then made off with cash and jewellery.
Following his arrest, he confessed that he was the killer and that he suffocated Caroline last May as she slept and then hanged Roxy from the bannister of their Athens home by his leash in an attempt to make his story more credible that burglars had burst in and kibris bahis siteleri committed the crime.
After suffocating Caroline as she slept, Anagnostopoulos then smothered puppy Roxy (pictured) and hanged the pup’s lifeless body on the banister of their first floor flat in Athens.Anagnostopoulos is also being charged with animal murder – something made possible following a new law introduced last year that forbids their unlawful killing
Speaking of the forthcoming trial, Mr Crouch said: ‘We are also pleased that the Greek prosecutor intends to throw the book at Caroline’s killer.
‘Here in Greece, husbands often receive relatively light sentences for killing their wives if they can show they have been provoked; something that is currently enraging the women’s movement here.
‘It is something that they are actively working on, lobbying lawmakers and politicians.’
He added: ‘However in his report the prosecutor contends that Caroline was killed after a period of careful planning, that she had been asleep for two and a half hours and that he had been in a calm state of mind.
‘It seems inconceivable that he will get anything less than a life sentence.’
On Friday, Anagnostopoulos will face what is known as a mixed jury trial which is made up of three full-time judges and four jurors who will be chosen from the public.
There will be nine prosecution witnesses, including Susan Dela Cuesta, Caroline’s mother; a therapist who Caroline was seeing with her husband; their former next-door neighbour; the coroner; three police officers and some childhood friends of Caroline.
Anagnostopoulos is relying on six witnesses, kibris bahis siteleri including his parents and some friends to help him prove his case that he acted in the ‘heat of the moment.’
He also claims that Caroline became more aggressive after suffering a miscarriage.
