Fidlaw, an esteemed legal firm specialising in cross-border cases, effectively represented an 18-year-old British tourist who endured a traumatising experience in July 2022 on the idyllic Greek island of Crete.
The culprits, two individuals from Pakistan, were found culpable of engaging in gang rape and causing physical harm. The case was heard at the Court House in Rethymno, Igoumenou Gavriil 111, Rethymno 741 00, Greece, and reached its conclusion on 21 June 2023, with the defendants receiving the harshest sentence of life imprisonment, as unanimously determined by the presiding judges and jury members.
This groundbreaking conviction represents a significant stride toward achieving justice for the survivor and serves as a testament to Fidlaw’s unwavering dedication to advocating for victims of abhorrent crimes.
The law firm’s devoted legal team, consisting of Solicitors Francesco Meduri and Elena Hadjikyriakou, along with their counterparts Anna Perdikaris and Emmanouil Xenikos, who are based in Greece, tirelessly fought to ensure the amplification of survivors’ voices and the triumph of justice.
In addition to the charges of gang rape and physical harm, the defendants also faced allegations of violating immigration laws and unlawfully entering Greece. The proceedings brought to light a prior record of criminal behavior by one of the perpetrators, further underscoring the imperative of accountability and the potential application of civil liability to the state.
Fidlaw, with its profound expertise in international law, has played a pivotal role in this groundbreaking case. The firm’s diligent endeavors have not only resulted in a just outcome for the survivor but have also conveyed a resolute message that wrongdoers will be held answerable, regardless of their nationality.
This conviction sets an influential precedent, instilling hope in survivors and contributing to the pursuit of a safer and more equitable society.