A policeman, aged 47, strangled his 7-year-old daughter at Nemea Street in Thessaloniki. The father, just returned to service, after a nine-month leave following the birth of his second child, aged 18 months, is being detained at Thessaloniki Police Headquarters. A friend of the family said that he called the police himself shortly after committing the crime. The mother returned home to find police cars and ambulance services at her home.

Paramedics found the girl unconscious but they were unable to revive her despite their efforts. The mother, in a state of shock, was transferred to the hospital where she received services. A private doctor at the scene of the crime told Proto Thema: “The child was unconscious, lying in bed without trace of a pulse. For two and a half hours we did all we could to keep her alive, but it was impossible.”

Neighbors were surprised by the incident and described the policeman as a man who did not appear capable of such a crime. The only unusual thing they had noticed was that the house shutters had been perpetually kept shut over the last ten days. Colleagues of the man state that he had troubles at work and was displeased that he had been transferred to the riot squad after his parental leave. He often said that he was too old to be in the riot squad and had preferred his earlier position. There were minor disciplinary problems but he had passed the psychological tests.

A neighbor told Proto Thema that the father was a reserved man who kept to himself. “I’m moved,” said the neighbor. “On Monday my little one was playing with the poor child from balcony to balcony.”

The girl was pronounced dead shortly before 6 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon and an autopsy is currently being conducted. The father is being led to the prosecutor on Wednesday.