The owner of the amusement park in Pefkochori, Halkidiki, where a 19-year-old lost his life last August, was remanded in custody following his testimony before the investigating magistrate in Polygyros.

The other two defendants who testified today, the owner’s wife and the operator of the fateful ride (Crazy Dance), were released under restrictive conditions.

It is worth noting that all three defendants face felony charges of intentional homicide, completed and attempted, acting jointly.

According to reports, the amusement park owner, who is now headed to prison, denied the charges in his testimony and challenged the findings of the expert report, which indicated malfunctions and omissions in the operation of the ride that cost 19-year-old Giannis his life.

His wife, who was also a co-manager of the amusement park, denied any involvement and was released with the agreement of the prosecutor and the investigating magistrate under the condition of a travel ban.

The Crazy Dance operator was also released under the conditions of a travel ban and mandatory appearances at a police station. He shifted the blame for the accident to the amusement park owner.

“I could not have known about the poor condition and maintenance of the machine,” he stated, among other things, in his written testimony, adding, “I acted according to my employer’s instructions regarding the operation of the machine.” He also claimed that he had no way to provide first aid to the unfortunate 19-year-old, call for help, or transport him to a hospital because he was spirited away immediately after the accident.

Speaking to protothema.gr, lawyer and criminal attorney Anthoula Anasoglou, who represents the young ride operator, stated the following:

“My client feels vindicated because his voice was heard, and the truth came out. He did not know and could not have known about the defects concealed by the amusement ride, as he has no technical knowledge, only basic elementary education. There was a handwritten set of instructions on the machine, which he followed to the letter. He placed the unfortunate boy and his brother where they were supposed to be seated, according to the instructions, and fastened their safety belts. The speed did not exceed the indicated permissible limit, and it was clarified that the accident was not caused by the ride’s speed. He remains devastated by the loss of the young boy. The prosecutorial and judicial authorities appeared convinced by my client’s honesty, who, let me remind you, never hid and voluntarily turned himself in at the local police station after the young man’s death.”

It should be noted that tomorrow, the mechanic who is also being prosecuted in this case will testify. He is accused of aiding and abetting the intentional homicide, completed (in the case of the 19-year-old) and attempted (in the case of his brother), as he is alleged to have certified the safe operation of the fatal ride.