High tension in Thanasis Nikolaou death inquiry
The death inquiry of Thanasis Nikolaou continues, with forensic pathologist Dimitra Karagianni being examined by the representative of the Legal Service, Xenia Xenofontos. Karagianni was appointed by the Athens Prosecutor’s Office and not paid by the Nikolaou family. She received a fee for her examination work from the Republic of Cyprus, totaling 9,000 euros for two examinations. Tension arose during the inquiry, especially when discussing the forensic report and the condition of Thanasis Nikolaou’s fetal bone. Karagianni rejected the term “genetic abnormality” for the condition of the bone, citing evidence from an anatomy handbook. She was not present during the exhumation of Thanasis’s body and could not comment on the amount of soil covering it. The judge had to intervene multiple times due to the tension and to ensure the focus remained on substantive questions.