Greece Greece - Ben Needham, 21 mos, Isle of Kos, 24 July 1991

[Murkywaters]

For anyone wanting a whole picture of the case i suggest you purchase purchase Kerry's mother book ''Ben'' on Amazon. It's a heartbreaking read, and a good read for understanding the jurisdictional horrors of having a loved one go missing abroad.

A couple of interesting things from the book.

- On 24 July 1990 EXACTLY a year before Ben was abducted a young Finnish holidaymaker, Virpi Maria Hunnele was raped and killed on the same Iraklis hillside, no more than 400 yards from the farmhouse. The Kos police never told Kerry of this. Ben Disappeared on July 24, 1991.

- Builders working on another property ave statements to the police stating that they had witnessed a white car parked in the lane around 2.30pm the time Ben disappeared. There were two men in the front and a woman in the back. The car is believed to be a Suzuki Alto or similar model. ''They took your baby'' the police told Kerry.

- The car is believed to be owned by Xanthippe Agrelli, A Kos local who came into the investigation as a translator. She made inconsistent statements about the car. The Needham's wrote about Agrielli on this blog. http://benneedham18.blogspot.com.au/2007/10/never-ending-nightmare.html

- Two days after Ben went missing, he was reportedly seen at an airport. A receptionist remembered seeing a boy fitting Ben's description. He was accompanied by an older child who asked for some chocolate, and motioned towards the toddler who repeated in English ''choc choc'' they didn't have any money.

 

[DakotaMayi]

For anyone wanting a whole picture of the case i suggest you purchase purchase Kerry's mother book ''Ben'' on Amazon. It's a heartbreaking read, and a good read for understanding the jurisdictional horrors of having a loved one go missing abroad.

A couple of interesting things from the book.

- On 24 July 1990 EXACTLY a year before Ben was abducted a young Finnish holidaymaker, Virpi Maria Hunnele was raped and killed on the same Iraklis hillside, no more than 400 yards from the farmhouse. The Kos police never told Kerry of this. Ben Disappeared on July 24, 1991.

- Builders working on another property ave statements to the police stating that they had witnessed a white car parked in the lane around 2.30pm the time Ben disappeared. There were two men in the front and a woman in the back. The car is believed to be a Suzuki Alto or similar model. ''They took your baby'' the police told Kerry.

- The car is believed to be owned by Xanthippe Agrelli, A Kos local who came into the investigation as a translator. She made inconsistent statements about the car. The Needham's wrote about Agrielli on this blog. http://benneedham18.blogspot.com.au/2007/10/never-ending-nightmare.html

- Two days after Ben went missing, he was reportedly seen at an airport. A receptionist remembered seeing a boy fitting Ben's description. He was accompanied by an older child who asked for some chocolate, and motioned towards the toddler who repeated in English ''choc choc'' they didn't have any money.

BBM.

Yes MW is right, this book is a great insight. I was hooked. Poor family.

 

[JerricaBenton]

I read the book last week, you can actually feel her hope and despair through the pages.

 

[gregjrichards]

"The son and daughter of the Greek digger driver suspected of accidentally killing Ben Needham are suing the British toddler's mother.

Chrysovalandis Barkas and Maria Tsechou accused Kerry Needham of undermining their family's reputation after the 43-year-old said she hoped their father was 'burning in hell'.

They said their 'patience had run out' with Mrs Needham after her outburst following a police investigation that incriminated their father, Konstantinos 'Dinos' Barkas."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-hoped-father-burning-hell.html#ixzz4Nooaavrx

Poor Kerry yet more distress. I can also understand Dino's children being upset. But anyone can appreciate Kerry is a distraught, grieving mother mourning the loss of her son, who has discovered the man who may have killed her son accidentally may have taken this secret to his grave. I can understand Kerry being upset too.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

"The son and daughter of the Greek digger driver suspected of accidentally killing Ben Needham are suing the British toddler's mother.

Chrysovalandis Barkas and Maria Tsechou accused Kerry Needham of undermining their family's reputation after the 43-year-old said she hoped their father was 'burning in hell'.

They said their 'patience had run out' with Mrs Needham after her outburst following a police investigation that incriminated their father, Konstantinos 'Dinos' Barkas."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-hoped-father-burning-hell.html#ixzz4Nooaavrx

Poor Kerry yet more distress. I can also understand Dino's children being upset. But anyone can appreciate Kerry is a distraught, grieving mother mourning the loss of her son, who has discovered the man who may have killed her son accidentally may have taken this secret to his grave. I can understand Kerry being upset too.

Oh god, I thought something like this might happen. To be honest if they really HAVE to sue anyone it should be the dude who grassed him to the police, or even the police. Not the family who were clearly led to believe Dino did it. What a mess.

 

[DakotaMayi]

I think it was the comment that Kerry made about Dino, at least thats the impression I am getting, that aggrevated them, not him being accused. (In no way am I supporting this, just pointing out how I read it.)

 

[gregjrichards]

Oh god, I thought something like this might happen. To be honest if they really HAVE to sue anyone it should be the dude who grassed him to the police, or even the police. Not the family who were clearly led to believe Dino did it. What a mess.

It is a mess indeed a tragic nightmare. I have no idea how a defamation case like this would work about a deceased person in Greece. I don't think it is possible to file a defamtion lawsuit about a dead person in the UK from what I have just read.

I think it was the comment that Kerry made about Dino, at least thats the impression I am getting. (In no way am I supporting this, just pointing out how I read it.)

You're right the comment was made by Kerry.

 

[DakotaMayi]

You're right the comment was made by Kerry.

Oh no sorry I meant that it was the comment that aggrevated the not him being accused as a whole.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

It is a mess indeed a tragic nightmare. I have no idea how a defamation case like this would work about a deceased person in Greece. I don't think it is possible to file a defamtion lawsuit about a dead person in the UK from what I have just read.

Correct. In British law, a person has no interest in their own reputation after death, which means that an action cannot be brought on their behalf by members of their family. It's why the media tend to put the boot into dead public figures such as Robert Maxwell and Jimmy Savile.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

Oh god, I thought something like this might happen. To be honest if they really HAVE to sue anyone it should be the dude who grassed him to the police, or even the police. Not the family who were clearly led to believe Dino did it. What a mess.

And yet there is the report that Dino went to the police in 2012 and confessed that he thought he'd killed Ben.

I have a feeling, from what has been reported, that Dino's family are angry about the "burning in hell" comments as much as any claim that he was responsible for the death.

 

[Elainera]

"The son and daughter of the Greek digger driver suspected of accidentally killing Ben Needham are suing the British toddler's mother.

Chrysovalandis Barkas and Maria Tsechou accused Kerry Needham of undermining their family's reputation after the 43-year-old said she hoped their father was 'burning in hell'.

They said their 'patience had run out' with Mrs Needham after her outburst following a police investigation that incriminated their father, Konstantinos 'Dinos' Barkas."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-hoped-father-burning-hell.html#ixzz4Nooaavrx

Poor Kerry yet more distress. I can also understand Dino's children being upset. But anyone can appreciate Kerry is a distraught, grieving mother mourning the loss of her son, who has discovered the man who may have killed her son accidentally may have taken this secret to his grave. I can understand Kerry being upset too.

It says they are worried about their whole family's reputation, not just Dino's. I don't know if they would have a legal leg to stand on, as Kerry's comment was directed at Dino, not the whole family, but even if they do, I think this is not right, it's morally wrong. Kick someone who's down?

I think it's cruel what they're doing. I hope they withdraw the suit.

 

[lisette]

I don't think, under the circumstances, that they would win...but who knows how the system would work in their home country..There may be some bias in their favor.

 

[DakotaMayi]

It says they are worried about their whole family's reputation, not just Dino's. I don't know if they would have a legal leg to stand on, as Kerry's comment was directed at Dino, not the whole family, but even if they do, I think this is not right, it's morally wrong. Kick someone who's down?

I think it's cruel what they're doing. I hope they withdraw the suit.

Yes its not targeted at the family. So if that is why they are suing because of all of their reputations it surely won't go anywhere

 

[TheTruthWillOut]

Oh god, I thought something like this might happen. To be honest if they really HAVE to sue anyone it should be the dude who grassed him to the police, or even the police. Not the family who were clearly led to believe Dino did it. What a mess.

BBM

By whom though? The final press release from SYP gives a professional opinion that an accident happened near to the farmhouse where Ben was playing and that there was machinery, including a digger present. It does not name or hint at who was responsible. It is only the press that claim the Police believe Barkas is responsible unless I missed them stating this themselves?

I agree the Barkas family suing Kerry is both pointless and unfair to her yet I also understand the Barkas' anger in all this. The below quote from this Telegraph article is interesting if true: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...ver-take-legal-action-against-ben-needhams-m/

But even if the latest line of inquiry is in fact true, why did the lead investigator come to me at the end of the investigation here to apologise for the inconvenience caused and the reference made to my father's name?

Ending this like they have is just the worse case scenario for everyone involved IMO.

 

[Pisces Cloud]

They've all seemed very insensitive right from the beginning and so this doesn't surprise me. I hope it goes nowhere.

 

[Alyce]

I doubt they will be able to make any claim.

As far as I remember, and I may have read it wrong, I thought Kerry said - or rather was quoted as saying - IF Dino had anything to do with Ben's death then she hoped etc etc ...

ETA ............. plus, as has been said, the reference was made about a dead person, so there is no case to bring.

Understandable that the family would be unhappy with the references, yet again, about Dino, but would have been better, for everyone, including them, if they could have expressed their disappointment and anger without adding in an empty threat about going to sue Kerry.

 

[Gardener1850]

'IT'S HORRIBLE' [h=1]Missing Ben Needham’s mum remembers her ‘beautiful boy’ on his 27th birthday – as cops release pic that ‘proves he is dead’[/h]

Kerry admits chances of him being alive are 1% after his toy car is dug up on island where he vanished

THE family of missing Ben Needham are remembering their “beautiful, cheeky boy” on his 27th birthday today – hours after cops released a picture of the toy car they say proves he died on a Greek island 25 years ago.

The Matchbox car was dug up on October 15 near the farmhouse where the family, from Sheffield, were staying in 1991.

Officers showed it to Kerry, 43, who confirmed her son was playing with it on the day he vanished.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/20740...y-as-cops-release-pic-that-proves-he-is-dead/

 

[Gardener1850]

Well, I don't see how that "proves" he is dead. He might just as easily have dropped it when someone snatched him. His poor mum

 

[Pisces Cloud]

If the car was found at the fly-tipping site then it must have come from where the digger was digging. That's probably why the police think Ben did wander that way on at some point.

 

[DakotaMayi]

No gardeners right, it does not prove that he is dead however I can see why it would lower the chance of him being alive.