I promised murder and mayhem at the end of my last post. In GW 11/2022 I referred to Roula Pispirigou (Ρούλα Πισπιρίγκου) who is accused of murdering her oldest daughter. She is also under suspicion for murdering her two younger daughters and, possibly, her landlady. The forensic evidence points to her guilt but, as in the case of an alleged rape case I’ve already commented on, the “trial” is being played out in the press and media. Pispirigou hasn’t admitted her guilt and, though she is in pre-trial detention, she is quoted daily in the media as she has access to a phone. Her partner, though not a suspect, is at the very least what the Americans call ‘a person of interest’. Yet, he has also been interviewed extensively. Pispirigou even called one TV host to complain about an interview the host had conducted with her partner. Then, at the silly end of the spectrum, some minor personality said, “I needed three attempts at IVF to get my child, and she murders her kids.” I’m sorry, but your trials and tribulations with IVF have fuck all to do with this case. Inevitably, Pispirigou has been called a modern-day Medea. The story has even caught the attention of the Daily Mail: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10716077/Greek-mother-smiles-disabled-daughter-photo-giving-fatal-Ketamine-dose.html The basic information appears to be correct, but it does not capture the circus surrounding these tragic events in Greece.
23rd April. St George’s Day. Tomorrow is Greek Easter. The local press is concentrating on international issues like the war in Ukraine and the presidential elections in France, but there is one local family undergoing its own personal Calvary with no hope of resurrection. Their 15-year-old son was killed on Good Friday by his friend. A gunshot wound to the head. The shooter and his father have appeared in court. Although, it appears to have been accidental, one has to ask why a loaded gun was accessible to two teenagers. Wikipedia states Greece has 22.5 guns for every 100 inhabitants, lower than Germany with 32 per 100, but higher than France Ireland and Hungary with 15, 7 and 5.5 respectively per 100 inhabitants.
The grandmother (γιαγιά) is here, the ‘mayiritsa’ (μαγειρίτσα) is on the hob, beers and wine are cooling in the fridge, and the lamb will be chucked in the oven tomorrow morning. Μαγειρίτσα is a thick, heavy soup whose main ingredient is lamb offal. It is an Easter dish eaten after midnight mass. Happy Easter to everyone.