Crew member, captain convicted in drowning of Blue Horizon passenger

Crew member, captain convicted in drowning of Blue Horizon passenger
28.02.2025 https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1262938/crew-member-captain-convicted-...

A court in Piraeus handed a 12-year prison term to a sailor accused of causing the death of a passenger by pushing him into the sea as he tried to board a ferry in Piraeus in September 2023, and another seven years to the ship’s captain.

Two other crew members of the Blue Horizon accused of aiding the crime were acquitted on Thursday.

The main defendant who received the bigger prison sentence was accused of deliberately pushing Antonis Kariotis into the swirling water as he ran onto the loading ramp while the ferry was getting ready to leave the capital’s main port, bound for Iraklio, Crete. The ship sailed off in front of dozens of outraged witnesses and it did not return to port until 40 minutes later when ordered to do so by a prosecutor.

Earlier, the judges accepted the defendants’ prior clean criminal record as a mitigating factor which helped them avoid life sentences for homicide and disruption of ship traffic safety, resulting in death.

The court also rejected their request for a suspension of their sentence until the appeal is heard.