The funeral of 23 year old Manolis Stratakis will take place this afternoon at four o’clock in his village of Anogia. The young livestock farmer was shot yesterday and died later, after an argument between himself and a cousin, over grazing rights for their flocks.
Manolis leaves behind both of his parents and three siblings. The family home is exactly next door to the home of the family of the assailant.
As more details come to light about the two families and their differences, it seems that there was daily friction, as access to the grazing area of one, was only reached by crossing the other’s land.
According to sources, two hours before the bloody incident, the two families had had serious words yet again. As the family of the assailant crossed the land earlier to reach their own, relatives of the victim were there making cheese and a new argument ensued but this time, the guns did the talking, with the tragic ending for the 23 year old who died of his injuries whilst being taken to hospital.
According to the same sources, there were most likely 7 people involved in the exchange of fire, 4 from one side of the family and 3 from the other.
The police are now searching for the 54 year old assailant, who is charged with the murder of his young relative. The investigation is ongoing by the Rethymnon Police Division taking responsibility, in cooperation with the detectives from Geropotamos sub division.
The two men were first cousins and based on statements already taken, the victim appears to have fired at the assailant initially. In the village, there are serious concerns of retaliation and information shows that members of the victim’s family have already begun target shooting at homes of the wider family of the assailant, something that for most, could show signs of the beginning of a vendetta.
The atmosphere in the village is very tense and strained and the authorities have sent additional police officers in, to prevent any new acts of revenge.