Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Abigail Nicholson

Man murdered his wife and strangled dog while baby girl slept in home

A pilot was found guilty of murdering his wife and strangling their dog after telling police she was killed by intruders.

Babis Anagnostopoulos, 34, appeared in court in Athens on May 16, 2022, after being charged with the murder of his Liverpool -born wife, Caroline Crouch. The 20-year-old was reported to have moved to Greece when she was eight, and was raised on the island of Alonnisos by her British father, David Crouch, and Filipina mother, Susan Dela Cuesta.

Officers found the mum-of-one dead on May 11, 2021, and a court heard how her husband murdered her as their 11-month-old daughter slept in the house. He was also convicted of strangling the couple's dog to lend credence to the narrative the family had fallen victim to ruthless burglars demanding to be handed hidden valuables.

READ MORE: Two men arrested after teenager was beaten to death in city centre

After abandoning the home invasion scenario, Anagnostopoulos claimed Ms Crouch died following an altercation between the couple over the infant's care. Prosecutors maintained he intentionally suffocated her while she was asleep.

The civil aviation pilot and flight instructor initially told police armed robbers broke into the house at night, binding and gagging him and his wife in their bedroom while the baby slept. The incident shocked the nation and prompted authorities to announce a 300,000 euro (£254,000) reward for information about the crime.

Caroline Crouch was murdered by her husband (Instagram / Caroline Crouch)

Anagnostopoulos was arrested more than a month after Ms Crouch's death after attending a memorial service for her near her family home on the Aegean Sea island of Alonissos. He was seen hugging the victim's mother before being led away.

Caroline's heartbroken parents won custody of their granddaughter, now 20 months old, in June 2021. Caroline first met Anagnostopoulos, who is 12 years her senior, when she was a child as he has ties to the island and was visiting family at the time.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.