Death from pathological causes or criminal action? Sudden liver failure and sinus agenesis or asthma? In these questions, based on corresponding forensic reportsThe Mixed Jury Court of Athens is requested to answer in relation to the death of the two youngest children of the Daskalakis family, ie. Iris and Malena. Regular and lay judges hold a “battle” of scientific opinion between medical examiners, who question each other’s findings and are asked to solve the mystery of their children’s deaths. Roulas Pispirigou.
Forensic reports of Christina Tsakona and Angelikis Tsiolawho examined the bodies of the children, attributed their deaths to pathological causes. Some time later and after an order from the Office of the First Instance Prosecutor of Athens, the conclusion was issued Nikos Karakoukis – Nikos Kalogriaswhich resulted in suffocation deaths, after studying the files of both cases.
However, the disciplinary investigation allegedly had a different outcome for Angeliki Tsiola, who had access to the alleged information. case filechanging her own testimony during the investigation. In fact, the case has reportedly been transmitted to the competent disciplinary board, chaired by a judge and composed of a representative from the Ministry of Justice, the State Legal Council, but also the forensic service, in order to examine whether there is punishment. should be imposed on her.
The first step
The first round of the forensic “war” closed this week with forensic examiner Christina Tsakona completely contradicting Nikos Karakoukis and Nikos Kalogreas. Over the past month, judges have turned into medical students trying to understand terms like steatosis of the liver and vacuolar degeneration of liver cells to determine whether a person can die within hours of fulminant liver failure. Sometimes evidence, exhaustive medical questioning and diametrically opposed views on what ultimately happened to the two children are shown inside the courtroom, while the judges and the audience watch the rather determined experts.
“There is a hostile atmosphere for disagreement among colleagues. I don’t agree with that. Here are the results. If we had no results, asthma would come to the fore again,” Nikos Kalogrias testified. When he himself heard from the president of the court the reasoning by which his colleague, Christina Tsakona, came to the conclusion that Malena Daskalaki’s cause of death was liver failure, and when he was asked to comment on it, he declared that he was arrested. with “scientific vertigo”.
In the last month the judges have “turned” into medical students, trying to understand complex terms, trying to understand what happened to the two children of the family.
The scratches
One point where conflicting opinions were expressed was the scratches on the child’s face, but also the time at which they were noticed. For example, the medical examiner Sokratis Tsantiris, who was the couple Daskalakis – Pispirigou at the time, immediately after Malena’s death, claimed that the scratches were made at the time “around death”, i.e. even shortly before death.
“Compression gives some pulse. It didn’t matter whether the heart wasn’t in control. Because the heart is compressed, if there is an open wound it may bleed. Here it looks like it’s not typical blood, I’d say because of the orange tinge it’s close to death. As long as there is a pulse, even a technical pulse due to CPR, this could happen,” said Mr Tsantiris.
His position was in complete contrast to the position of the head of the forensic service, Nikos Karakoukis, who said that “the color is not brownish-brown, as Mr. Tsantiris argued in his report. This means that death occurred shortly before. The bruises are red, so it’s a live reaction.” However, Mr. Karakoukis emphatically insisted that Malena Daskalaki did not die of liver failure, deconstructing the opinion of Christina Tsakona. “I did not encounter liver failure in one day before here, the child was fine,” he said, insisting that all signs “point to asthma.”
Nikos Kalogrias expressed the same certainty about asthma, listing the seven results that lead to death from asthma. “If you take the results one by one you might be skeptical, but when you have seven together they lead somewhere. Not every result can be caused by something else. There is nothing else that ties these results together. The cause of death is clear,” he said.
The court heard, a few days before, Christina Tsakona rejecting the possibility of asthma and saying sharply ”if there was asthma, the heart should be like an “empty cigarette bag”. Four coroners have taken the courtroom already left (Tsadiris, Tsakona, Karakoukis, Kalogrias) and four more are expected for the seven judges in the Mixed Jury Court to reach a verdict for Roula Pispirigou, who was already convicted of the death of her eldest child.
The key phrase
What certainly causes a sensation is the repeated phrase of every medical examiner, about the simple formation of a scientific opinion – which does not involve any disciplinary responsibility - which should, at least in theory, help the judge judge do. . But how easily can one decide to rule out death from suffocation because the heart should be ”like an empty tobacco bag” or to commit a criminal act because the other version causes ”scientific vertigo”?
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Interview Between Time.news Editor and Forensic Expert Dr. Sophia Manolaki
Time.news Editor: Welcome, Dr. Manolaki. Thank you for joining us today to discuss the ongoing forensic scrutiny surrounding the tragic deaths of the Daskalakis children, Iris and Malena. This case has captured public attention with its complexities and the apparent discord among medical experts. Can you first summarize the situation for our readers?
Dr. Sophia Manolaki: Thank you for having me. The case revolves around the sudden deaths of two young children, which has raised a spectrum of forensic opinions. Initially, forensic examiners Christina Tsakona and Angeliki Tsiola attributed the deaths to pathological causes. However, another examination led by Nikos Karakoukis and Nikos Kalogreas suggested suffocation as the cause. This has led to a “forensic war” in the courtroom, where judges are trying to interpret complex medical terms and conflicting expert testimonies.
Time.news Editor: The term “forensic war” is certainly striking. Can you elaborate on how these conflicting opinions are being received in the courtroom?
Dr. Sophia Manolaki: Absolutely. The courtroom has transformed into an arena where legal professionals are grappling with medical terminology and concepts, which is quite unusual. For instance, they’re discussing conditions like steatosis of the liver—something you’d typically find in a medical textbook, not in court proceedings. This dynamic has resulted in a tense atmosphere, especially when experts like Tsakona and Karakoukis openly contradict each other. Their discrepancies not only confuse the judges but also spark concern about the integrity of the forensic investigations.
Time.news Editor: It’s compelling how the atmosphere resembles a medical conference rather than a legal setting. What do you make of the specific points of contention, such as the scratches found on Malena’s face?
Dr. Sophia Manolaki: That’s a crucial aspect. The scratches are significant in determining the timeline of events. Forensic examiner Sokratis Tsantiris proposed that these injuries occurred just before Malena’s death, suggesting a physical struggle or a reaction during an incident. Meanwhile, Karakoukis disagreed, emphasizing the coloration of the bruises as an indication that they were post-mortem or indicative of different circumstances entirely. Such conflicting views on physical evidence contribute heavily to the complexity of the case.
Time.news Editor: Given the seriousness of these allegations, how does the investigation affect the medical professionals involved, particularly in terms of their reputations and careers?
Dr. Sophia Manolaki: The stakes are incredibly high for those professionals. This case has already led to a disciplinary investigation concerning Dr. Tsiola, suggesting that there may be implications for malfeasance or negligence if any wrongdoing is found. The tension in the medical community is palpable; colleagues are divided, and there’s a fear that these disagreements may lead to broader scrutiny of their work as forensic experts. The potential for severe professional repercussions looms over all involved.
Time.news Editor: It’s fascinating yet alarming that such a case can have ripple effects through the forensic community. In your opinion, what is the path forward for resolving these differing opinions, and what would you recommend for ensuring justice for the Daskalakis family?
Dr. Sophia Manolaki: The path forward requires a thorough and transparent review of all forensic evidence, possibly involving a neutral third-party expert to provide clarity without bias. It’s essential to foster an environment where medical professionals can discuss their findings collaboratively rather than adversarially. Ultimately, the priority should be accurately establishing the cause of death to bring closure to the Daskalakis family and uphold the integrity of the forensic discipline.
Time.news Editor: Thank you so much for your insights, Dr. Manolaki. This case truly highlights the intersection of forensic science and justice, and hopefully, it leads to a resolution that honors the memory of Iris and Malena.
Dr. Sophia Manolaki: Thank you for having me. It’s important to keep advocating for clarity and truth in such tragic circumstances.