Caroline Crouch’s killer husband smiled ‘like he was on a cruise’ after being arrested at her memorial
CAROLINE Crouch's killer husband smiled "like he was on a cruise" after being arrested at her memorial, according to reports.
Brit Caroline Crouch, 20, was smothered to death by husband Charalambos “Babis” Anagnostopoulos as their one-year-old daughter Lydia lay nearby, before he staged an elaborate fake robbery scene at her home in Greece.
A police spokesman said Babis was discovered handcuffed to the floor near Caroline’s body and had duct tape over his eyes and mouth when they entered the scene.
But the 33-year-old later confessed to strangling his wife last month and he has since apologised for his crime - admitting he "lost his temper."
And a witness to his arrest has now revealed he was “smiling” as he was taken away by cops during a memorial service for his wife.
Captain Dimitris Anthimos told : "I have not seen a better actor.
"He was smiling, as if he were going on a cruise."
Babis was then taken by boat from Alonissos to Skiathos.
It comes after Caroline's mum is reported to have given her daughter's killer husband £17,000 just ten days before he killed her and lied to cops.
Greek media reports Susan Dela Cuesta handed the sum to Babis Anagnostopoulos just over a week before he smothered his Brit wife and staged an elaborate fake robbery scene.
Family lawyer Thanassis Harmanis is reported to have said that just before the killing Babis was given 20,000 Euros by his mum-in-law.
Harmanis also claimed that the family gave him 2,000 Euros to transport Caroline's body and 2,200 Euros for a coffin, reports and .
He was hitting back at reports that the pilot, 32, claimed - during an interview from prison - he paid for Caroline's coffin.
It was initially reported exclusively by The Sun that he had asked her parents for the cash.
In a statement, Harmanis said: "How much is the truth of the claim of a man who for 37 days forced the authorities to look for 3 robbers who [killed] the mother of his child and their dog?
"The amazing direction, the unparalleled acting talent brought tears to the eyes of people with empathy."
Anagnostopoulos confessed to suffocating his wife last month - claiming he killed her during a row after she vowed to leave him.
He then meticulously covered his tracks - including removing memory cards from CCTV cameras - and told cops she was killed by a gang of robbers.
The shameless killer - who for over a month lied to police, her parents and the world about her death - has since apologised for his crime.
However, Greek cops have hinted there may be another motive and Babis's finances have come under scrutiny from detectives.
His lavish lifestyle has sparked suspicion over potential drug involvement - and this week sources revealed fears he may have been smuggling drugs in his chopper.
The couple had recently been on a luxury holiday to Dubai and had also spent £47,000 on land and designed a £140,000 dream home.
Meanwhile Caroline’s dad, David Crouch told The Sun his daughter had a strong ''sense of right and wrong'' and would have threatened to leave her husband had she found out he was involved.
He added he believed there was ''some foundation'' to rumours in the Greek press that the killer pilot was also linked to drug smuggling.
Last week a source of crime journalist Angeliki Nikolouli hinted that Caroline might had seen something that shocked her before her death.
It is believed that the young Brit was using her coded diary to record the abusive behaviour of her husband.
But her husband who is currently in the ''VIP'' wing in Korydallos prison, insisted his wife was not keeping a diary.
''I am not persuaded that this is a crime conducted in a fit of rage, a crime of passion,'' said Thanassis Katineropoulos who heads the union of Greek police officers.
''I believe it was premeditated,'' he told Open TV.
''I hope the investigating magistrate goes all the way so the truth can be learned and justice rendered.''
However, amid the wider theories about her death - Caroline's marriage appears to have been unhappy and abusive.
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The couple met when she was just a teenager and he was in his late twenties - marrying not long after she turned 18.
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" when he facts a judge.
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If he is somehow able to convince the court then he could have his sentence cut to a maximum of 15 years.
He admitted to his part in the crime after eight hours of interrogation by cops - and even confessed to killing the family dog and stringing up its body to try make the "robbery"; tale convincing for detectives.
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, where you call 999 and press ‘55’ if you can’t safely speak.
- Always keep some money or a bank card on you, including change in case you need a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to move towards an exit if you are inside the house and get your phone in case you need to call for help.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other potential weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom.
Women’s Aid provides a - available every day from 10am-6pm or email [email protected]
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 – [email protected].
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.