Irini Mourtzoukou arrived at the Achaia Courthouse just before 1 p.m., where a large crowd had already gathered. People shouted angry words like “murderer”, “shame”, “disgusting”, and “filth” as she entered the building.
She was taken before the investigating judge and requested more time to prepare her testimony. She was granted a deadline to testify on Sunday and then taken back to the police headquarters in Athens (GADA).
Security was very tight outside the courthouse, with many police officers forming a protective circle. Witnesses said she appeared hunched over, terrified, and avoided eye contact — very different from her earlier public appearances.
Also present was Katerina, the mother of the 6-month-old baby Mourtzoukou had killed on February 4, 2021. At the time, the autopsy had indicated lung inflammation and the baby had shown seizure-like symptoms.
Her lawyer, Nikos Alexandris, said he had been trying to get her to tell the truth. “In every conversation we had, as a person, a father, and a lawyer, I urged her to be honest. She finally confessed early yesterday morning to the Homicide Division,” he said.
He added that Mourtzoukou has a “complex personality” and hinted that others may also bear some responsibility. “There is a confession, and it will be made official on Sunday,” he said.
Police presence was heavy throughout the courthouse, and an ambulance was on standby.
Her Confession
Before she was transferred to Patras, homicide investigators managed to get her to confess.
“I did it. I felt regret, but then I did it again,” she reportedly told them.
Mourtzoukou confessed to killing:
- Her two own babies
- A friend’s baby, and
- Her sister, when she was just 14 years old (a case that is now legally expired).
She claimed, “My mind would shut down,” and also pointed to her difficult relationship with her mother: “Whenever I fought with my mom, I wanted to hurt someone.”
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