Extradited
Page 32
We met some incredible people in Greece – thank you to all those who we didn’t even know before but who helped us in some way or another. Especially Eugenia Iordanidi (Siozos), Father Malcolm Bradshaw, Christine and Cliff Sakali (and friends), thank you for showing us such kindness. Arnas Pakrosnis, Fivos Kalfopoulos and Vasilis Keritis – we met in the hardest of times in our lives: locked up in prison with our pending court cases always at the back of our minds. You all became good friends to me and I hope I had as much of a positive effect on your lives as you did mine. (I told you guys that I’d write a book when I was out, and I’m a man of my word!) Styliana Vasili, you were my only friend in Athens when I was on bail (and a very good one at that). Auntie Sotira Theodorou, it was amazing seeing you so much and I wish you were in London more often. Thank you for making us feel like we were at home with our family when I wasn’t allowed to leave Greece – and I miss your amazing cooking.
To all the witnesses who took the time to fly to Greece and defend my innocence, I can’t thank you enough, especially Georgina Clay, Toni Martelli and Christina Christou. Andrew Christophides, Aron Rouse, Alex Kalli, Jason Demetriou and George Georgiou – thank you for being a huge part of the trial. To all my best friends, ‘the boys’ and the Bournemouth Uni lot (you all know who you are), I couldn’t ask for better, more supportive friends.
Lastly, the people who I owe everything to are my family. To my sister Sophie, you are very special to me and I know how much this has affected you. You are a strong person and I want you to know that I’m here for you through thick and thin. Vasos Polycarpou, you are a brother to me and I hope that you can rely on me as much as I do you. To my parents, you brought me into the world, taught me right from wrong, and showed me how to be a good person. You were strong for me throughout, even though I know how easy it could have been to fall apart. Life changed in an instant, then you dropped your lives and we got through it together as a family. Not only have you given me life, but you’ve saved it. A ‘thank you’ is nowhere near enough, so I guess the only way for me to show you how grateful I am is to make the most of it. I love you all very much.
* * *
Copyright
* * *
First published in Great Britain in 2015 by
Biteback Publishing Ltd
Westminster Tower
3 Albert Embankment
London SE1 7SP
Copyright © Andrew Symeou 2015
Andrew Symeou has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the publisher’s prior permission in writing.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition, including this condition, being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
Every reasonable effort has been made to trace copyright holders of material reproduced in this book, but if any have been inadvertently overlooked the publishers would be glad to hear from them.
ISBN: 978-1-84954-928-8
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
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