Andrew Symeou
| Andrew Symeou | |
|---|---|
 Andrew Symeou 2015 | |
| Born |
16 October 1988 United Kingdom, London |
| Occupation | Writer, Memoirist, Author |
| Nationality | British |
| Notable awards | CompletelyNovel's Big Book Launch 2015 Winner |
| Website | |
|
www | |
Andrew Christopher Symeou (born 16 October 1988) is a British born memoirist and author of the book Extradited: The European Arrest Warrant and My Fight for Justice from a Greek Prison Cell.[1]
Symeou was wrongly accused of killing holiday maker Jonathan Hiles in a Greek nightclub. The case became high profile in 2009 when he was extradited to Greece on a European Arrest Warrant and spent a year in prison pre-trial.[2] Most of his incarceration was spent in Korydallos prison; a high-security facility known for its bad conditions.[3] Symeou was found not guilty of the killing on 17 June 2011.[4] In April 2013 British Coroner Mary Hassell accused the police of using brutality in the preliminary investigation and stated that the evidence against Symeou had been "concocted" by the officers.[5]
Early life
Symeou was born to Greek Cypriot parents[6] and grew up in North London.
Memoir
Symeou's book, Extradited, was published by Biteback Publishing in May 2015.[7] The memoir was a winner of the CompletelyNovel big book launch 2015, which included authors who had written books on the theme of inspiring people and places.[8]
Political impact
The case is notable for highlighting the problems with the European Arrest Warrant and how it operates. Ex Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg publicly stated; "No-one should ever have to go through what Andrew and the Symeou family went through. It was a travesty that they were made to suffer so much for so long. His case showed that there were real problems with the way the EAW was operating and that things needed to change as a result."[9]
References
- ↑ "Brit holidaymaker extradited to notorious Greek prison after being falsely accused of killing teenager reveals torment on This Morning". The Mirror. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
- ↑ "European warrants need reform, says acquitted Symeou". BBC News. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
- ↑ "British student: my ordeal at hands of Greeks over trumped-up death charge based on "lies"". The Telegraph. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
- ↑ "Andrew Symeou cleared over death on Zakynthos". BBC News. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
- ↑ "Father of student killed by single punch in Greek nightclub brands man cleared of his manslaughter a liar as they come face to face at inquest". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
- ↑ "I was framed, jailed and betrayed: British tourist tells how he was arrested for murder in Greece and held in a squalid prison because of the controversial European Arrest Warrant". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
- ↑ "Brit holidaymaker extradited to notorious Greek prison after being falsely accused of killing teenager reveals torment on This Morning". The Mirror. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
- ↑ "The One Big Book Launch - Ensuring Great Books Get Read". CompletelyNovel. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
- ↑ "Nick Clegg: Nigel Farage has modern justice - and my position on Andrew Symeou - all wrong". The Independent. Retrieved 23 December 2015.