On Wednesday morning, amid an atmosphere of deep sorrow, shock and anger, 45 year-old Stavroula Leventaki’s family and friends gathered at her funeral service in Varypetro, Chania to say their final goodbyes.

Speaking to the press, her loved ones said how they cannot come to terms with the horrific manner in which she passed away, and demanded justice and exemplary punishment for the confessed perpetrator.

Earlier on Wednesday, police revealed they had uncovered the perpetrator’s steps when he removed Stavroula’s body after having killed her. Several inconsistencies in the man’s account had already drawn investigators’ attention from the start of the investigation. Later, surveillance cameras in the area later helped police reconstruct the route of the blue van allegedly used to transport victim’s body.

According to the case file, on the day of the murder, May 30, the defendant left his home in the van at 18:29:11 actual time, while the recording system showed 17:51:12. He returned at 18:44:57 actual time, with the recorder showing 18:06:57. Police officers who analysed footage from cameras in the area concluded that the van was heading towards Mournia, in Chania. During a search of the blue van, officers found traces of blood that were later confirmed to belong to the 45-year-old victim. Seven samples of biological material were collected from the passenger seat, the passenger seatbelt, and the inner and outer door handles. Four reddish-brown stains were also found on the plastic floor surface inside the storage compartment and on the left horizontal frame inside it. A further seven traces were subsequently detected.