Young Greek woman raped and burned alive

The naked body of a 33-year-old woman was discovered behind a block of flats in Xanthi, Greece, on Thursday morning. The woman had been raped, stabbed and burned alive.

To Vima reported the young woman had returned from her home in Thessoloniki to the northern Greek town of Xanthi, to spend the Christmas holidays with her parents. She was the daughter of a local businessman who markets chick peas. The burning body was discovered by the young woman's father and brother who rushed to extinguish the flames that engulfed two motorbikes outside their home. According to Proto Thema neighbours heard cries and discerned a human silhouette amidst the flames. Evidence so far points to the rapist or rapists setting the victim on fire with petrol from the motorbikes. Police think at least two assailants were involved in the heinous crime as it would have been difficult for one man to hold a motorcycle and drain petrol. It is expected that the autopsy will reveal the DNA of the murderer.