Man charged with football fan's murder is sentenced separately on arms possession

The young detainee, a PAOK fan, was arrested as a suspect for the football-motivated violence in Thessaloniki's Harilaou district, in which the 19-year-old was stabbed to death and two others were injured on Tuesday solely because of their support for the rival Aris football team. A Thessaloniki public prosecutor charged the 23-year-old with murder and attempted murder, committed jointly with others.

Meanwhile, he was separately tried in flagrante delicto at a misdemeanors court on charges of operating an unlicensed football fan club, possession of harmful objects, illegal possession of firearms and handling proceeds from criminal activity. The arrest and trial was based on the fact he was found in possession of keys to a storage space from which police confiscated folding knives, helmets, hand sparklers, fire crackers, various tools including shovels and hammers, metal pipes and wooden bats.

The misdemeanors court sentenced him to 4 years and 3 months in jail without suspension and a 2,200-euro fine. In addition, he has been banned from attending any sports events for 5 years and is obliged to check in at his neighborhood's police station every time his football team plays.

The man has been detained until his testimony on Monday.