Suspected accomplice in writer's murder turns himself in

A Romanian man who is suspected of taking part in the December 5 murder of acclaimed Greek novelist Menis Koumandareas, 83, in his Athens home, has turned himself into the prosecutor investigating the case, according to reports on Friday.

Police have already arrested a 26-year-old Romanian national identified only as Stefan and were seeking Cosmin Gaitan, aged 29, on suspicion that he was part of the attack on the writer in his home in the central Athenian neighborhood of Kypseli on the night of December 5.

Investigators believe the two suspects, who were acquainted with the writer, waited for him at the entrance to his apartment building and forced him to take them into his flat in order to rob him.

Koumandareas was found dead in his bed by a relative in the early hours of December 6. It is believed the suspects beat and strangled him when he refused to reveal whether he had money or other valuables hidden in his home.