The British Police had been called to Waterloo Road at about 2.45 a.m. on Saturday after reports of an assault at a bus stop. They rushed to the scene to find a victim with fatal head injuries that had caused his death at the scene. The formal identification of the man as 43-year-old Menelaos Aligizakis, a teacher at Athens College, immediately sent chills through the community of one of Greece’s most famous education institutes.

His students, shaken by the tragic news, created a Facebook page to pay their respects. Mr. Aligizakis has been described as a formidable teacher and decent human being. He taught Science, Maths, Chemistry and Technology at the prestigious college. He had studied classical piano at the National Conservative of Athens (197901987) and was a science graduate of the University of Athens with a specialty in telecommunications and IT technology. He was an experienced teacher, having served tenures at schools in both Greece and England as well as at private colleges and universities in both countries.

30-year-old Mark Dwayne Patten of Thornton Heath, charged with the offence, appeared at Green Magistrates’ Court on Monday, January 5.

Detectives are continuing to appeal for witnesses and information. Anyone who witnessed the crime can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org