Major update in Caroline Crouch murder as killer husband’s family LOSE shameless bid to win custody of couple’s daughter
THE parents of Caroline Crouch’s killer husband have lost their bid to win custody of the couple’s daughter.
Babis Anagnostopoulos, 34, was jailed for life for murdering the Brit mum, 20, in front of their baby at their home in Glyka Nera, Greece, in May 2021.
The twisted killer was sent to maximum security prison Korydallos after being found guilty of strangling Caroline to death and killing her beloved dog before faking a botched break-in.
Nearly two years after Caroline was killed, Babis’ parents’ shameless bid for custody of the couple’s daughter, Lydia, has been rejected by a court in Athens.
Under the court order, Lydia’s Greek grandparents have been granted just one hour of access to her “via Skype or other electronic means” each week.
Caroline Crouch’s family lawyer Thanassis Haramanis told The Sun: “It is what we wanted in every way.
“The little girl will now live in peace with Caroline’s sister and mother, Susan, in the Philippines.
“Lydia could not be more happy there.”
The ruling ends Babis’ family’s attempts to have Lydia brought back to Greece.
But the killer has launched a bid to get his 27-year sentence cut short.
The Sun has learned that he is hoping to reduce his jail time with good behaviour.
Haramanis vowed to “fight just as we did the first time round”.
“We are very prepared. The longer he stays in prison the better,” the lawyer said.
“His parents, unfortunately, believe their child and have been guided in their actions by him.”
Caroline’s Liverpool-born dad, David, who has remained in Greece, has described his former son-in-law’s appeal as “absolutely despicable”.
He told Greek media: “It is absolutely despicable that my daughter’s killer is trying to get his prison sentence reduced because of his ‘good behaviour.’
“The crime committed by the murderer, that of femicide, is a heinous crime that should deserve particularly severe punishment.
“In my opinion, men who kill their wives, for whatever reason, are the lowest of the low, ranking alongside paedophiles.
“I think it will be a sad day for women when the murderer of a defenceless woman who slept with her child will serve less than his full prison sentence.
“This man is beyond contempt.”
The pilot’s legal team are arguing that no mitigating circumstances were taken into account in the previous trial.
Babis’ lawyers previously argued he had acted in the “heat of the moment” after a row.
He also argues that he continued claiming his family had been targeted by an Albanian gang, fearing little Lydia would be taken away.
Last month, David claimed Babis killed his daughter because she had threatened to leave him if he continued trafficking drugs in an explosive interview on Greek TV.
He claimed the jailed pilot had confessed all in a typed letter he had sent him.
Caroline’s death made headlines across the world as the young mum was found brutally murdered next to her 11-month-old daughter, Lydia.
Babis put up the pretence that his wife was a victim of a ruthless gang that broke into their maisonette on the outskirts of Athens.
He played the role of grieving husband for 37 days, sobbing to reporters, visiting his wife’s grave and even comforting Caroline’s heartbroken parents.
But his sick cover-up was rumbled after police pulled together a stack of digital evidence that disrupted his timeline of the alleged botched robbery.
It was only after eight hours of interrogation that he finally gave up the charade and confessed to the crime himself.
Babis was convicted in May last year of premeditated murder, animal abuse and two counts of perverting the course of justice.
As well as being jailed for life, he was also handed and 11-year sentence for killing the dog and fined 21,000 Euros.