Greece’s Ministry of Justice has suspended the entire forensic service of Patras following a string of critical failures in high-profile criminal cases involving the deaths of infants.
The decision, announced on 10 July by Justice Minister Giorgos Floridis, will remain in effect until the service undergoes full reorganisation. In the meantime, all forensic cases from the Achaia region will be handled by the Corinth forensic department.
The suspension comes amid growing concern over the mismanagement of forensic reports in two major criminal cases- those of Roula Pispirigou and Eirini Mourtzoukou- both of which involved infant victims whose causes of death were initially misclassified as natural.
In the Pispirigou case, three young girls died over a two-year period and were initially declared to have died from medical causes. It was only after further investigation that toxicology and forensic reviews revealed ketamine poisoning and signs of suffocation, leading to Pispirigou’s conviction for murder.
The Mourtzoukou case, even more recent and shocking, involves a 25-year-old woman who confessed to killing four infants- including her two daughters, her baby sister, and a friend’s child- between 2014 and 2023. Several of these deaths were previously certified as non-suspicious by Patras forensic staff. New investigations, however, uncovered evidence of criminal foul play, including suffocation.
At least four separate coroners from Patras have been linked to these cases- one has died, another has resigned, the former head is under disciplinary suspension, and a fourth is under official scrutiny. These developments have fuelled public outrage and severely damaged confidence in the service.
“We want to protect the credibility of the forensic service,” ministry sources told public broadcaster ERT. “The recent media revelations have caused significant public concern.”
The reorganisation is expected to include structural changes, clearer oversight, and a renewed emphasis on professional standards, particularly in cases involving minors or vulnerable victims.
Also read: Mourtzoukou infant murder confession shocks Greece
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