Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 12-06-08

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Homicide charge filed against man who fatally shot alleged home invader

[01] Homicide charge filed against man who fatally shot alleged home invader

The man was charged with fatally wounding a 43-year-old Albanian national. An Athens prosecutor filed the charge with the extenuating circumstance that the man was acting while in the "heat of the moment" (ab irato).amna

In his initial statement, the 24-year-old, a veterinary student in Hungary, said he unintentionally fired his shotgun while chasing a trio of unknown men believed to have broken into at least three residences in the early morning hours of Thursday. His attorneys also said their client believed previous shotgun fire from the same neighbourhood emanated from the burglars. According to reports, another neighbourhood resident fired into the air to ward off a trio of robbers, believed to be the same men.amna

The 24-year-old also told authorities he recognised the shooting victim as one of three men that broke into his home, which he shared with his mother and brother, and also expressed remorse for shooting the man. Initial reports state that the trio of robbers held a knife to the throat of the man's mother in a bid to force her to turn off an activated alarm.amna

Roughly 200 friends, relatives and neighbours of the man were outside the first instance court complex in Athens in a show of support for the 24-year-old. If convicted based on the indictment filed, a maximum sentence would be no more than 20 years. amna

Another man, identified initially as a relative and compatriot of the 43-year-old, was also arrested. amna

The incident came after last month's fatal shooting of a man in the east Athens district of Kesariani after he confronted three men trying to steal his car before dawn. The suspects fired on the victim and his brother with an assault rifle, killing the first and seriously injuring the second.

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