The operator denies criminal responsibility and told investigators he ‘did his duty’, adding that he was not at the scene and did not know the perpetrator was present. He and other officers who were on duty that night are under criminal investigation for alleged omissions; all face the charge described in the indictment as ‘fatal exposure by a responsible person through omission’.

The ongoing inquiry is examining the conduct of several officers. In court this week, the operator and a guard who was in the booth near the scene were called to apologise. The officer to whom Griva had initially appealed for help also apologised and was released, while the supervising officer on duty that night has been charged. All remain under investigation.

Speaking after the decision, the operator’s lawyer, Christos Karamanlis, said the disputed phrase — ‘patrol cars are not taxis’ — does not appear in the indictment and described it as an ‘inappropriate phrase’. He argued his client followed protocol and maintained there is no causal link between the telephone exchange and the fatal outcome.

Mr Karamanlis said the operator’s role that night was as a telephone operator rather than a responder, and that the call recording shows Griva reported a threat at her home, not at the police station. He added that when the operator later realised the assailant was at or near the police station, he immediately ordered a patrol car to respond with priority.

‘We apologised, we set out our position in writing and orally to the investigating officer,’ the lawyer said. He described the bi-monthly reporting condition as ‘unnecessary and excessive given the part attributed to my client’ but insisted his client ‘has nothing to do with any offence connected to these homicides’.

The judicial process continues before the investigating magistrate.

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