Athens court acquits defendants in murder trial of journalist Giorgos Karaivaz

An Athens mixed jury court on Wednesday acquitted the two defendants in the trial for the murder of journalist Giorgos Karaivaz, who was gunned down outside his home in April 2021. The court, which included both judges and a majority of jurors, found there was insufficient evidence to convict the two brothers, aged 49 and 41, of the crime. The acquittal was decided by significant majorities of 5-2 and 6-1.

The prosecutor had previously recommended a guilty verdict for both defendants, who faced charges of premeditated homicide and illegal possession of firearms. The prosecutor argued that the murder was connected to organized crime and suggested that the motive might be related to Karaivaz's investigative reporting and his plans to expose certain information.

Karaivaz, an experienced crime reporter, had connections within the Greek underworld and with corrupt police...