Criminal prosecution for homicide by concurrent negligence, on a misdemeanor charge, has been brought by the prosecutor against six persons for the death of the 2.5-year-old girl, of Nigerian origin, at the municipal nursery “Agios Stylianos” of Thessaloniki, in February 2023.

Among the defendants are the then-person in charge and assistant in the management of the institution, two senior administrators, and two doctors.

These persons had been called to testify as suspected of committing criminal acts, as part of a preliminary investigation ordered by the Thanksgiving Prosecutor’s Office.

The investigation was requested to be carried out by the Sub-Directorate of Crimes against Life and Property of the Security Department of Thessaloniki. Evaluating the findings of the investigation, the prosecutor announced a criminal prosecution to the Prosecutor’s Office of the Thessaloniki Appeals Court.

If the procedural actions are approved, the case is expected to be brought to the hearing of the single-member Criminal Court of Appeal, due to special jurisdiction, since one of the accused has the status of a lawyer, according to the Athens/Macedonian News Agency.

The death of the child

According to the documentation, the little girl was found unconscious on February 17, 2023, at the institution by an employee and despite the efforts of an ambulance crew to revive her, this was not possible.

The previous day the child had been taken to the Ippokratio hospital as he was experiencing tonsil problems, with the attending doctors administering medication.

The doctors treated him with medication.

After receiving discharge he returned to “St. Stylianos” but his health condition deteriorated and he died as a result.

As described in the case file, the 2.5-year-old girl was accommodated at “St. Stylianos”, as, by court order, custody had been removed from her mother. Because of this decision, she was unable to see her daughter when she was taken to hospital.

By tragic coincidence, the mother was able to overturn the previous court order by a later court decision and was to receive her child the day after his death.