BEYOND THE GRAVE

Caroline Crouch wrote her heartbreaking diaries in CODE to secretly record horror abuse at hands of killer husband

MURDERED Caroline Crouch penned heartbreaking diaries in code to secretly record horrifying abuse at the hands of her killer husband.

But Greek authorities fear publishing the 20-year-old Brit mum’s entries detailing her abusive marriage with twisted Babis Anagnostopoulos, 33, could "offend the victim’s memory".

Advertisement

🔵 Read our Caroline Crouch live blog for the very latest updates...

Caroline's diary reveals she wanted to leave her husband amid an abusive marriage
The helicopter pilot admitted killing Caroline after being confronted with evidence that he had killed herCredit: LNP

Some of Caroline's diary passages have already been glimpsed after they were leaked to the media and social media. 

Excerpts depict a rocky and controlling marriage with her Greek helicopter pilot husband, which led her to threaten to leave him. 

It is believed the diaries, some of which were written in code, chronicle disturbing details of Crouch’s deteriorating and abusive marriage in the run-up to Babis strangling her. reports .

Advertisement

But Greek prosecutors have banned further publication of the secret diaries, arguing that they could prejudice the trial.

He has been charged with murdering Caroline and is facing a life sentence for smothering her after earlier disarming CCTV in the house.

What we know:

Supreme Court prosecutor Vassilis Pliotis said: "The publication of the [diary] entries not only offends the victim’s memory... they may contribute to creating a favourable climate for the defendant and his line of defence."

Advertisement

An investigation has been launched into how passages from her journal, which were contained in a 26-page police report, were leaked.

After lying to police for more than a month that Caroline was killed by a gang, he finally confessed to killing her at their home outside Athens on May 11. 

But Anagnostopoulos will claim the killing was not pre-meditated and instead he entered a "blurred" state of mind as a result of her being "verbally and physically aggressive towards him".

If he is somehow able to convince the court then he could have his sentence cut to a maximum of 15 years.

Advertisement

The publication of the [diary] entries not only offends the victim’s memory... they may contribute to creating a favourable climate for the defendant and his line of defence

Vassilis Pliotis, Supreme Court prosecutor

In one leaked entry, written last July, a month after giving birth to her daughter, Lydia, Caroline writes of her plans to move out of their home.

In December of 2019, she wrote: "I fought with Babi again. This time it was serious.

";I hit him, I cursed at him and he broke down the door.

"All I wanted was for him to ask how I am when I woke up. I woke up so weak and tired.

Advertisement

"I am thinking of leaving. I am thinking of going to my sister, I don't know if I can keep going with Babi.

"I love him so much that I can't leave him even though this relationship hurts me."

The couple met when Caroline was a teenager
Anagnostopoulos arriving in courtCredit: Athena
Advertisement
The 33-year-old had claimed a gang broke into their houseCredit: pixel8000

Caroline writes in another entry in 2019: "Last night we fought with Babi because I had a meltdown because of my hormones.

"I yelled at him and hit him and told him I don't want our baby...

"I am not well, I am very upset, I know he would never hurt my baby.

Advertisement

";My love for her is stronger than anything in the world.”

On July 3, 2020, when her baby daughter Lydia was a month old Caroline wrote: "Today my little one is a month old - it's also the day I told Babi I want to leave... I feel awful."

She continues by saying she found a house in Halandri, a suburb of Athens and adding that she was thinking of leaving him before she got pregnant but eventually "stayed with him because I didn't want my daughter to grow up without her parents."

The diary includes several entries where Caroline blames her hormones for the couple's arguments and says she feels "embarrassed" her hormones affect her so strongly.

Advertisement

Caroline had allegedly messaged a pal on the night of her death, telling them she was leaving Babis.

Babis confessed he strangled his 20-year-old wife when she vowed to leave him and staged the crime scene.

He initially told police that a gang of Albanian criminals had broken into the couple's home in Glyka Nera on May 11.

Advertisement

The murder shocked Greece and Anagnostopoulos' account of what happened initially attracted an outpouring of sympathy for him and the families involved.

But that has turned to widespread anger when he confessed to the crime after maintaining his charade.

Police have described him as a ";top-class actor" as he was pretending to be devastated by his wife's death for 38 days.

Most read in News

URGENT HUNT
Fears grow for two boys, 12 and 13, last seen 24 hours ago sparking huge search
LEFT TO DIE
Parents who left son, 4, in bed for 8 days then buried him in garden are jailed
SNAPS OF EVIL
Inside monster Assad’s creepily normal family album abandoned at palace
DEATH IN SNOW
Putin missile boss SHOT DEAD after masterminding production of weapons

According to the investigators he even drowned the family dog and hung its body from a stair banister to blame it on the burglars and strengthen his story.

Advertisement

Cops travelled to the island of Alonnisos where a memorial service for Caroline took place and asked him to follow them in order to give new testimony about the murder probe.

Babis reportedly begged them to allow him to visit her grave before being taken to Athens.

After an interrogation of eight hours, he admitted he staged the burglary to "keep custody of their baby daughter."

Advertisement
Caroline wrote on her diary she wasn't feeling wellCredit: Tim Stewart
The pilot staged a burglary to mislead policeCredit: Enterprise
Anagnostopoulos telling the media his version of what happened
Advertisement

HOW YOU CAN GET HELP:

Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:

  • Always keep your phone nearby.
  • Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
  • If you are in danger, call 999.
  • Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
  • Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
  • If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
  • Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.

If you are a ­victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support ­service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.

Women’s Aid provides a  from 10:00am - 4:00pm weekdays, 10:00am - 12:00pm weekends.

You can also call the freephone 24-hour ­National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.

Caroline Crouch's husband arrives at court wearing bulletproof vest after confessing to murder as crowds hurling abuse
Topics
Advertisement
machibet777.com