A 44-year-old man was convicted of domestic threat in Volos on Friday after threatening to kill his father during a dispute over gambling money.
The Volos Single-Member Misdemeanour Court of Summary Procedure handed down a six-month prison sentence, suspended for three years.
To avoid serving prison time, the defendant must complete a domestic violence intervention program at the Volos Mental Health Centre. The court ruled that any appeal filed by the defendant will not suspend execution of the sentence.
Argument over gambling money
The incident took place on Thursday inside the family home, according to local news outlet gegonota.news. The court heard that the argument began when the 44-year-old asked his mother for money to place bets and she refused.
When the father attempted to intervene and calm the situation, his son turned on him. The father testified that his son ordered him to leave before threatening to kill him.
Fearing for his safety, the father called the police. He told the court that his son was addicted to gambling and frequently shouted at home, but noted that he appeared unusually enraged during Thursday's confrontation.
Defendant denies making death threat
Testifying in his defense, the 44-year-old denied threatening his father's life and denied using physical violence against his mother. He acknowledged that an intense verbal quarrel occurred but insisted he never touched her.
The defendant blamed the incident on long-standing family friction, claiming his father had been angry with him and had raised his voice toward him for 40 years.
He told the court that he had told his father to get out of his way rather than threatening to kill him. He admitted using a harsh insult that had offended his father.
Dispute over finances and gambling
Regarding his gambling habits, the defendant admitted to placing sports wagers but rejected the claim that he was addicted. He told the court that he does not bet daily and estimated his spending at 300 to 400 euros each month.
Under questioning from the prosecutor regarding his employment, the defendant stated that he holds a university degree but is currently unemployed. He said his past work history consisted of occasional work on agricultural land owned by his parents.
The defendant also brought up the family's assets, asserting that he had asked his parents to give him a fair share of property equivalent to what his siblings will inherit.
Father disputes spending claims
The father rejected his son's claims about his finances during his testimony. He told the court that the money spent on gambling far exceeded the 300 to 400 euros a month stated by the defendant.
According to the father, his son obtains money from his mother's pension and from income generated by leasing family real estate. The father added that his son had never worked a day in his life and blamed the family's property for his lack of employment.
Court ruling and rehabilitation condition
The guilty verdict appeared to take the 44-year-old by surprise, and he noted to the court that he had no prior criminal record.
Volos is a port city in Thessaly in central Greece. Misdemeanor summary courts in the Greek legal system process lower-level criminal cases rapidly when suspects are apprehended shortly after an alleged offense.
Following the court's ruling, the defendant must participate in the domestic violence treatment program at the Volos Mental Health Centre. Fulfilling the rehabilitation condition is mandatory to prevent the six-month prison sentence from being enforced.
