Government in Greece begs for calm amid outcry over the deaths of three young sisters

Intense scenes have played out in Athens, where the government has begged for residents to stay “calm” as the nation rages over a shocking case.

Intense scenes have played out on the streets of Athens – where the government has begged for residents to remain “calm” as the nation rages over the deaths of three children in the same family.

The nation has been captivated by the case in which a 33-year-old woman from southern Greece has been charged with the murder of her nine-year-old daughter.

Her other two daughters have died in the past three years – and their deaths are now being examined amid a media frenzy and widespread public outcry.

Incredible footage from the nation’s capital on Thursday shows the moment the handcuffed mother was taken to court – flanked by riot police and heavily armed police.

Members of the public can be seen swarming the mother, yelling and trying approach her – but police are able to keep them at bay.

The woman was mobbed as she was escorted to court in Athens. Picture: Yiannis Panagopoulos/AFP

Protesters also gathered outside the mother’s home in the port city of Patras, 200km west of Athens, where police were also forced to step in.

The suspect, who was not formally identified due to Greek laws, was arrested a day after being detained for questioning on Wednesday.

That came after the results of tissue tests that showed the presence of an anaesthetic drug that had not been administered by the girl’s doctors.

The nine-year-old died in January after spending eight months in hospital.

A panel of senior coroners is leading a review into the death of the suspect’s two other children: a three-year-old girl from liver failure in 2019 and a six-month-old girl in 2021 from a suspected heart defect.

The case has captivated the nation. Picture: Vassilis Rempapis/AFP

Authorities say issue samples from the two girls are now being re-examined.

The suspect has denied any wrongdoing and is expected to respond to the charges in court on Monday.

In a private television interview last month, she slammed news reports that described the three deaths as suspicious.

“I find myself in a position to defend myself against things that are unspeakable … this was a house that was filled with joy,” she said in the appearance on Star television on February 17.

“How could I hurt my own children? I gave birth to them, raised them, and was always with them. It doesn’t make sense.”

In the same interview, her husband described her as “a rock” for her children. Police investigators have been granted access to her private online communications.

“The emotional and moral burden of this event surpasses most if not all of us,” government spokesman Giannis Oikonomou told reporters after this week’s arrest.

“There are no words to express the pain this has caused. This requires considerable thought and reflection.”