Sparta locals voice support for man who shot suspected robber

A 49-year-old Greek man is due to appear before a magistrate in Sparta on Tuesday to answer murder charges after killing a man he suspected of trying to steal for his storage room.

The incident prompted dozens of locals to gather outside the court where the suspect was charged on Saturday to express their support for the 49-year-old. They shouted that the man should be deemed innocent and complained about rising crime in the Laconia area.

The suspect, who has not been named by authorities, shot and killed the 39-year-old Romanian who he allegedly caught stealing.