In the early hours of February 1, 2022, twelve young PAOK fans set off from their team’s central link and headed in three vehicles towards the area of ​​Harilaou. There they carry out a “blind” murderous attack with knives, crowbars, wood, scythe and other objects against a group of five, friends of ‘Aris’ group. Two of them catch up and escape, while the other three are viciously attacked.

Among them is 19-year-old Alkis Kampanos, who falls dead from the repeated blows to the body and head, while his two friends suffer injuries – to their souls and bodies. “Don’t hit me anymore” are the last words of the late ‘Alkis, before he breathed his last on Th. Gazi Street which now bears his name. The brutal murder of Alkis “freezes” all of Greece and his last words become a slogan against fan violence.

The police investigations culminate in the next 24 hours and lead to the arrest of the twelve persons involved. All are taken after their apologies to prisons as temporary prisoners. Eleven months after the murderous attack, and specifically last January, the much-lauded trial begins before the Mixed Jury Court of Thessaloniki. During the 6 months of the evidentiary process (until the decision is issued), a total of 49 meetings are held, more than 75 witnesses (accusation and defense) are examined and about 300 documents are read.

Although the findings of the forensic examination “show” more than 30 wounds on Alki’s body, the defendants, through their apologies, deny that they came into contact with him, nor to describe what they saw. Only one of them admits that he stabbed the 19-year-old student, with his confession being directly disputed by the district attorney.

The same public prosecutor in her marathon speech speaks of “an attack organized and planned until the last second with a common homicidal intention at the expense of all the victims”. “I’m really sorry, we have 12 young children that it was up to them to follow a better path in their lives and not the darkness. In an “unorthodox war” victory means conviction” she says in her proposal asking for the conviction of all the accused.

The verdict of the court

In the end, the court unanimously decides on their conviction, imposing the sentence of life imprisonment and additional multi-year terms on seven of the twelve, while the remaining five are sentenced to multi-year terms of imprisonment (suspended for 20 years). With the sentence of life imprisonment are punished those – according to the decision of the judges – who are found guilty as accomplices in the act of manslaughter with possible intent (upon conversion of the indictment from direct manslaughter intent), for the murder of ‘Alkis. Temporary prison terms were imposed on those found guilty as accomplices in the same case. All the accused are returned after the verdict to the prisons.

More specifically, the court imposes the following sentences on the 12 convicts, without recognizing mitigating circumstances:

*** On the 1st, a total prison sentence of 27 years (with 20 years suspended)

*** On the 2nd, life imprisonment and an additional total sentence of 20 years

*** On the 3rd and 4th counts, life imprisonment and an additional total prison sentence of 18 years

*** On the 5th, a total prison sentence of 24 years (with 20 years suspended)

*** On the 6th, a total prison sentence of 20 years

*** On the 7th, life imprisonment and an additional total sentence of 20 years

*** On the 8th, a total prison sentence of 19 years

*** On the 9th, life imprisonment and an additional total sentence of 20 years

*** On the 10th, life imprisonment and an additional total sentence of 22 years

*** On the 11th, life imprisonment and an additional total sentence of 20 years

*** On the 12th, a total sentence of 22 years (with 20 years suspended)

Their conviction concerns the following acts:

– For manslaughter with possible intent against Alkis the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 11th

– The 1st, 5th, 6th, 8th and 12th for complicity in the possible intentional homicide against ‘Alkis’

– For the attempted murder with possible intent against the first injured young man (A.B.) the 2nd, 7th, 9th, 10th and 11th and as accomplices in this act the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th and 12th

– For the attempted murder with possible intent against the second injured young man (D.K.) the 10th and as accomplices in this act the remaining 11.

– For a fight in the form of an attack which resulted in the death of all 12 with a sporting reference, while as the case may be for possession of an object (with the aggravating circumstances of the Sports Law), illegal carrying of weapons and use of weapons.

The court with the same decision imposes on everyone the additional penalty of the ban on attending and watching PAOK matches in any sport, both inside and outside Greece, for a period of 5 years.

“Justice for ‘Alkis'”

The parents of ‘Alki’ speak for a fair decision that does not bring their child back, after the verdict of the Mixed Jury Court of Thessaloniki. “It is a great vindication for our family, but my child is not coming back,” says his mother, Melina Kakoulidou, while his father, Aristides Kampanos, emphasizes that “justice has been served” with the decision.