Viral video captures assault of 49-year-old Greek Canadian by group of Cretans in Heraklion bar

The video was given to the Hellenic Police to be added to the file forwarded to the judiciary for the case.

The video shows the 49-year-old’s family leaving the bar after a night out. Leading the way is one of the family’s sons with his mother, the 41-year-old Icelandic wife of the assault victim. The woman looks cheerful as she walks towards the exit of the bar.

Just a few meters away is the 49-year-old man with the family’s son. The video clearly shows the moment in which a patron (one of the defendants) accidentally touches the Greek Canadian with his cigarette in his hand, who turns his head, simultaneously rubbing his hand where the cigarette holder had burnt him.

The young man, who accidentally burnt the 49-year-old, holds the cigarette behind his back as he turns his attention to the group and they chat carelessly. The moment the Greek-Canadian passes by, the young man allegedly leans over to have a friendly talk with the young person who burnt him.

The video has no audio, but it appears that the Cretan man with the cigarette is nodding to the 49-year-old man to tell him that he has not seen him. The Greek Canadian motions to leave, but eventually turns around and heads towards him. They seem to exchange some words about the cigarette incident, while the young man’s group of friends continue to chat normally, not realizing what has happened.

At that moment, a third young man (not sitting in the group) steps in between the two talking and essentially asks the 49-year-old to leave and end any misunderstanding. By then other people from both sides begin to gather around them. It seems clear that they are exchanging words, gestures, and pushing on both sides (a 41-year-old Icelandic woman also got involved), the issue was further taken outside resulting in the victim’s severe injuries.