Contact us
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting Enfield news to 80360 click here »
Extradition teen fights his innocence
10:51am Friday 8th August 2008
Comments (6)AN ENFIELD teenager who is facing extradition to Greece following the death of a fellow Brit has issued further claims which he says prove his innocence.
Andrew Symeou, 19, is due to appear at the City of Westminster Magistrates Court next Tuesday, August 12, where he could be extradited to Greece to face trial over the death of international roller hockey player Jonny Hiles.
The 18-year-old from Cardiff died last summer after being punched from a nightclub podium on the holiday island of Zante.
Mr Symeou is fighting to receive a trial in the UK, with an online petition to stop him being extradited to Greece receiving 3,000 signatures and a Facebook group attracting over 4,000 members.
And ahead of next week's court appearance, the Bournemouth University student has issued a statement which he says will prove his innocence.
He said: "The Greek authorities want me to be extradited but I have not even been questioned either by the Greek police or the Welsh police.
"I have not even been asked where I was that night...
"I know I was not there at the time. In fact, CCTV would show me entering the club at around 4am and leaving 20 minutes later, three hours after the alleged incident."
And a statement from the Justice for Symeou campaign added: "Friends of the victim initially gave statements to the police in which they described the event in which the victim was struck, and provided (differing) descriptions of the assailant.
"Notably, however, they described the assailant as being clean shaven and wearing a blue polo shirt at the time.
"Andrew had a beard at the time and was wearing a yellow shirt on the evening in question, a matter that can be proved by witness testimony and photographic evidence.
"Jonny’s friends were then later shown a photograph of Andrew that had been taken by a professional photographer in the club the night before. The photograph showed Andrew with a beard."
Mr Symeou's campaign against extradition has also been backed by Enfield North MP Joan Ryan and the UK Independence Party, which argues that new EU arrest warrants allowing people suspected of serious crimes to be extradited to the country in question without evidence first being heard in their home country are flawed.
The hearing will take place at 10.00am next Tuesday.
Your Say YourEnfield Independent
CAMPAIGN ADMIN, ENFIELD says...
7:24pm Tue 12 Aug 08
Why should Andrew risk 18 months in a Greek prison waiting for a trial for a crime he knows he did not commit? A simple investigation here in the UK can clear his name and he has said on countless occasions that he is happy to cooperate with the police in any way he can. Andrew’s legal team have submitted to the court all the evidence they have, which blatantly shows that the Zante Police are guilty of abuse of process. The files also show that the Police manipulated and manufactured statements in order to build a false case. Under Greek law a suspect can be held in custody for up to 18 months awaiting trial. Our Government has just rejected 48 days detention, so why should Andrew risk 550 days. Two of Andrew’s friends were held at the police station in Zante for over 8 hours, during which time they were beaten, punched, slapped and threatened by police officers until they gave statements implicating him in the crime. How can Andrew be sure this would not happen to him?
With regards to you comments about many local people already questioning why he doesn’t go back and clear his name. Well I hope this answers your question. Last week the Campaign JUSTICE FOR SYMEOU delivered a petition with over 5720 names, there is a great deal of local support. I suggest you visit the web site and see testimonials about Andrew from his Headteacher and other teachers from school and also comments left on the petition. This might give you an insight into Andrew’s character. He is a lovely young man.
SueDevlin, Enfield says...
8:49am Wed 13 Aug 08
Why has this whole investigation got to revolve around Mr Symeuo? It shouldn`t because it should be impartial.
I don`t know of any other investigation where the main suspect dictates the terms of the investigation.
SD
Billyjoe, Enfield says...
10:31am Wed 13 Aug 08
Hope u and yours are well.
You need to look at this from different angles.
If my boy was injured/killed in an unprovoked attack
I would have the same view as you and think why,if he
wasn`t there doesn`t he want to go and clear his name.
but looking at it closer and with the thought that there`s
someone stalling the investigation I may be tempted to
go knock on his door and sort it myself thus landing
me in trouble. I`m sure I would resist the temptation and leave
it to the law though.
Now if one of my boys was being accused of doing something
so cowardly – which they wouldn`t, I may even take the stance
of the Symeou family and say well if you accuse Andrew of this
then prove it but don`t expect his help to incriminate himself.
Remember “George Davis is innocent” campaign where the thinking
was if you shout it loud enough and long enough people will believe you.
If I was in the Symours position I would probably try twist and squirm
my way out of having my son sent back as well, cos no matter what
they love their son and will do or say anything to prevent him incriminating
himself and when you get that in your mind there is no thought for the victim
or the victims family.
Speak soon
Billyjoe
CAMPAIGN ADMIN, ENFIELD says...
4:05pm Wed 13 Aug 08
Just because George Davis proclaimed his innocence then turns out he is guilty, does not mean everyone who proclaims innocence must also be guilty. There is no logic to your argument.
Lets look at the facts. The defence have made serious allegation about the Zante Police and about the legal procedure of the Greek courts leading up to the preparation of the Greek Arrest Warrant. The Zante Police are accused of torture, corruption, abuse of process, manipulating witness statements, manufacturing witness statements, manufacturing evidence and ignoring actual evidence, The Zante Court is accused of ignoring the blatant manipulation and manufacture of evidence in building a false case but continued to issue an arrest warrant and for ignoring the legal process of summoning the accused to present his case before a court before he is charged.
The Greek authorities have been sent these allegations and have until the 2nd September to respond.
Before you question why Andrew does not want to go to Greece consider the facts and then ask yourself in theses circumstances knowing you are innocent would you go?
Billyjoe, Enfield says...
4:30pm Wed 13 Aug 08
I`m not a lady .
Not the last time I looked anyway.
I`m not arguing just commenting but the best place for any debate is in the court room once it has been established who the guilty party is.
I thought in my own little way I was supporting you and hey most of us would do the same thing if one of ours got into trouble as well.
Time for family to close ranks and be uneconomical with the truth and not offer any help which may incriminate you I can understand that. But most of the info you have put up is just hearsay anyway.
BillyJoe
Andrew Symeou
In this section
- Free Tudor event at Forty Hall next weekend
- Primary school gets public exhibition
- Hive warming party and other bee-lights this weekend
- Cheeky tea and cheeky cake
- Palmers Green residents still without power yesterday
- Visteon pensions fight not the first for mums
- All for one and one for all the family when The Three Musketeers perform at Capel Manor
- More strikes planned over pensions for Visteon workers
- Gear up for a traditional musical spectacular this weekend
- Power cut hits 14 postcode areas
Sponsored Links
Local Advertisers
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
SueDevlin, Enfield says...
2:11pm Tue 12 Aug 08
Sue D