The Greek pilot who killed his British wife, Caroline Crouch, in May 2021 has convinced his parents to testify in his defense as he appeals his life sentence.
At an appeal hearing in Athens, he told the court today: “I am sorry for what I have done” and apologized to his late wife’s family.
Babis Anagnostopoulos, 35, was sentenced to 27-and-a-half years for strangling his wife, 20, in front of their infant son at their home in Glyka Nera, Greece.
The 34-year-old staged a crime scene, where he tied himself up and hung the couple’s dog, Roxy, from a banister in an attempt to confuse police.
Babis appeared in court after the trial was postponed when his lawyer, Alexandros Papaioannidis, fell ill and was unable to attend on April 24.
Babis tries to convince the court that his wife’s murder was not premeditated, but a ‘heat of the moment’ act.
Greek helicopter pilot Babis Anagnostopoulos leaves the Court of Appeals of Athens on May 8, 2023, escorted by an armed police officer
Anagnostopoulos told the court today that he regretted what he had done. Pictured in Athens, May 8
Charalambos (Babis) Anagnostopoulos (R) wife Caroline Crouch (L) and their daughter
‘Babis’ Anagnostopoulos was found guilty of the first degree murder of his wife and sentenced in 2022 to 27 and a half years in prison for the crimes.
He had claimed that burglars broke into the couple’s home in East Attica, killing the dog Roxy in an apparent attempt to make the crime seem more realistic.
Babis was sentenced to 27 and a half years in prison for the crimes in May last year.
This included an 11-year, six-month prison sentence for Roxy’s murder, as well as a fine of 21,000 euros (£18,316).
He was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his wife.
After the conviction was handed down, his lawyer said the outcome was “expected.”
But Babis has tried to have the sentence reduced because, he claims, the murder was not premeditated.
In February, Crouch’s family spoke out against the appeal.
Her father said, “It is absolutely despicable that my daughter’s killer is trying to have his prison sentence reduced because of his ‘good behavior’.
“The crime committed by the murderer, that of femicide, is a heinous crime deserving of a particularly severe punishment.
“Men who kill their wives, for whatever reason, are, in my opinion, the lowest of the low, next to pedophiles.”
Babis will now call his parents and another four witnesses to take the stand in defense during the appeal.
Ahead of today’s hearing, lawyer Alexandros Papaioannides said“There will be a lot of new witnesses and documents that will contain elements that will help reverse this case.
“I think there will be a more accurate assessment [by the court] of the circumstances prevailing that day as to the crime he committed and whether it was committed in the heat of battle.’
Babis Anagnostopoulos leaves the Athens Court of Appeal on May 8, 2023
Babis Anagnostopoulos (left) is pictured with Caroline Crouch (right)
Babis’ lawyer, Alexandros Papaioannidis, has previously argued that his client is a “model prisoner” who “reads a lot and works in the prison canteen” and should not be punished for a crime “that was never premeditated.”
The state coroner has said that Crouch would have suffered a ‘long and painful death’.
She was pinned down by the pilot while sleeping in the couple’s maisonette in Athens, and resisted trying to fight back when he smothered her with a pillow for five minutes.