Prosecutors in Greece have ordered a significant reversal in the Tempi disaster investigation, allowing the exhumation of bodies for toxicological tests.
This follows the emotional 22-day hunger strike by Panos Ruci, whose son Denis was killed in the crash. Ruci had protested outside the Greek Parliament after his initial request to exhume his son’s remains for toxicological testing was denied.
The state’s reversal meets his demand, effectively reopening the case to address concerns over the victims’ cause of death. Ruci’s protest has gained significant public support, with hundreds visiting him daily in Athens’ Syntagma Square to express solidarity and sign books of support.
Toxicological tests demanded by families of other Tempi victims
The prosecutor’s order mandates the reopening of complaints filed by the families of the victims against the forensic experts who handled the original case. It also approves all pending requests for exhumations and toxicological tests, including those submitted by the Ruci, Aslanidis, Karystianou, and Konstantinidis families.
The Prosecutor’s Office has also invited lawyers representing all other victims’ families to submit additional requests for these crucial forensic examinations. A new, dedicated case file will be established to compile the findings from the exhumations and toxicological tests, with the evidence set to be used during the main criminal trial.
When Ruci was asked why he is requesting that his son’s body be exhumed, he replied:
“Because I don’t believe them anymore. We’ve been searching for the truth for two and a half years. I’m looking for justice, and all I see are closed doors and lies. I can no longer sit with my arms crossed. I’ve promised my child that I will find the murderers and put them in prison.”
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