‘LUCKY TO MEET YOU’
Husband of Brit murdered by burglars reveals agony that their baby will grow up not remembering her mother
THE husband of a Brit mum tortured to death by burglars has paid tribute to his "wonderful"; wife in an emotional funeral eulogy.
Heartbroken Charalambos "Babis" Anagnostopoulos, 32, told mourners at the funeral of Caroline Crouch, that their 11-month-old daughter now faces the agony of growing up not remembering her mother.
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The 20-year-old was tortured by a sadistic gang into revealing where cash and valuables were kept after they burst into the couple's Athens home just before dawn.
Earlier a hearse carrying Caroline's coffin, accompanied by her distraught mum, was taken by ferry to the island of Alonnisos, where she grew up.
When the coffin arrived on the island it was taken to its main church, Ayia Paraskevi, where mourners gathered for the funeral.
Caroline’s helicopter pilot husband later arrived on a chopper provided by the aviation business he works for.
He was pictured clutching little Lydia in his arm's as he walked from the aircraft to a car waiting to take him to the funeral.
Throughout the service and burial grieving Charalambos held Lydia tightly is in arms as they bid farewell to Caroline.
'ALWAYS BE NEAR ME'
He then delivered his parting words to his beloved wife, speaking about the joy she brought but also the pain their daughter will now feel.
"I was lucky that I met you, very lucky that you loved me and even more lucky that you are the mother of my child," he said.
“Lydia will grow up not remembering her wonderful mother, but Caroline who was the joy of life will always be near me, through Lydia."
The Sun Online was told that because of health problems, Caroline's doting dad, David, could not attend the service.
With her buried in the cemetery, which is next to the family's villa, it was hoped that one day he could visit her, friends said.
Earlier, local mayor Petros Vafinis paid tribute to Caroline, who went to school on the island, where her British dad settled with his Filipino wife.
“The whole island is going to be at the funeral. Everyone will be there,” Vafinis told The Sun Online.
'MUCH LOVED'
“Caroline was much loved and we are as shocked here as everyone in Greece by this horrible crime.
Caroline was raised on Alonissos where her British dad, David, had built a dream villa after falling in love with the island.
The former gas and oil executive had previously lived in Athens where he met Susan, a teacher.
Caroline moved to the island when she was a little girl, attending the local Greek school and joining the girl scouts.
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Three robbers forced their way into the family's two storey house at 4.30am after breaking a CCTV camera and hanging the family's dog by its own leash.
A fourth criminal kept watch outside the home as the other three found the couple sleeping with their child in an attic bedroom.
Officers described seeing Caroline's body tied to a pole where the intruders had tortured her in the family's attic bedroom, .
Lydia was "half on her, screaming and hitting her mother with her hands to wake her up".
Charalambos has told investigators he begged for their lives as the brutal thieves held a gun to the baby's head and demanded to know where they kept their cash and jewels.
He is believed to have suffered hypoxia - a potentially fatal lack of oxygen - before wriggling free and calling police in the early hours of Sunday.
Detectives have reportedly drawn up a "red list" of 100 suspects including foreigners and Greek nationals who have recently been freed from jail.
They are also probing possible links to five other robberies last year, which were also characterised by shocking levels of violence.
Officers suspect the gang may have been tipped off that the couple had £13,000 in banknotes stashed in the house.
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The money was to pay for builders after they bought a plot of land and was reportedly hidden in a Monopoly box.
Police believe the gang had information on the land sale and believed they would find a large amount of money in the house, in an upmarket Athens suburb, reports.
But according to murder cops are looking at whether the information came from within the couple’s inner circle.
A distraught Charalambos told investigators the terrified couple pleaded with the depraved gang not to hurt them and their baby, as his wife screamed for help.
INNER CIRCLE
The gang kept torturing her, convinced more money was hidden in the house.
“They kept telling me ‘where is the money, eh?’. I told them right away where I had hidden the money, so that the torment could end quickly.
"I heard my wife constantly screaming for help tied to the bed as I was tied up. The baby was crying, my wife was crying."
The thieves eventually escaped with more than £30,000 in cash and jewellery.
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A police spokesperson told the local news outlet The Dawn that police believe the suspects broke into the house through a window in the basement after spending several hours observing the family.
A post-mortem examination was taking place yesterday and it is believed she may have been strangled with her own T-shirt.
Meanwhile police are colleting DNA samples from the couple's clothes and from Caroline's fingernails, which could lead them to the gang.
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Samples from Caroline Crouch's fingernails show evidence of her frantic struggle as she fought back against her torturers and are now being examined by investigators.
CCTV footage from nearby homes and businesses was also being examined and door to door enquiries were also taking place.
Another police officer quoted in Greek media claimed the gang had been identified and were well known.
“The three robbers are professionals. They have what we call a criminal past,” said the cop.
“That is, they are marked, they have gone through prisons and as it turned out, they are people with a strong anti-social element and a complete lack of emotions.”
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He said the sadistic gang “used their hands” to kill the young mum despite having weapons in what was a “prolonged physical contact” with their victim.
The officer said the killers had the opportunity to walk away but didn’t.
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“This clearly shows their intention to kill. In a robbery, the question is money. It was not necessary to kill to achieve the goal.
“They took the money, but they will be charged with murder. A crime that will send them behind bars for many years.
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