Slain UC Berkeley prof’s wife among 5 accused of his murder

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ATHENS, Greece — Five suspects implicated in the killing of a University of California, Berkeley professor appeared in court in Athens on Thursday, including his ex-wife, who has denied all charges.

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Przemyslaw Jeziorski, 43, was shot and killed July 4 in Athens while visiting Greece to see his two young children and finalize legal arrangements for future visitation.

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Among those who appeared in court was Jeziorski’s Greek ex-wife, who remains in police custody on charges of solicitation to commit murder. Her boyfriend, a 35-year-old Greek man, has been charged with murder.

Three other men, also charged as alleged accomplices, were present. All five appeared at a central Athens court and were given until Monday to prepare their defence, court officials said.

Alexandros Pasiatas, a lawyer for the ex-wife, said she had no role in the crime.

“From the outset, my client has maintained that she is innocent and has no involvement in the crime,” Pasiatas said. “The evidence is overwhelmingly in her favour.”

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Police said Jeziorski was shot by a masked gunman in broad daylight near his ex-wife’s home in the suburb of AGIA Paraskevi, and died at the scene, CNN reported.

The suspect allegedly “approached the victim on foot and opened fire from close range,” hitting the victim in the neck and chest, according to police spokesperson Konstantina Dimmogid.

Police recovered seven bullet casings from a 9mm cAlibre firearm at the scene.

Jeziorski, who was born in Poland, was an associate professor of marketing at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. In a statement this week, the school described him as a “passionate teacher and leading marketing scholar.”

An online fundraiser by Jeziorski’s family has been set up to help pay for legal expenses, the cost to repatriate his body, and funeral expenses.

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His children are now in Greek child custody, CNN reportedciting his brother.

“Przemek’s ten-year-old children, who are U.S. and Polish citizens, are now under care in accordance with Greek child custody procedures,” Lukasz Jeziorski said in a statement obtained by CNN.

“Our primary concern is their safety and well-being, and helping them reconnect with their family to minimize the trauma they have already endured.”

His family said in a statement that he “loved his children and fought for them until the end. He paid the heaviest price, unnecessarily, for this.

“This summer, he wanted to bring his children to his hometown of Gdynia, Poland. This death and the circumstances surrounding it remain impossible for us to accept, but we find some measure of comfort knowing that progress is being made toward justice, and that the kids are about to reunite with their family into a safe environment.”

Lukasz Jeziorski added that their “family is heartbroken but “thankful for the help of the U.S. Consulate in Athens, and the Polish Consulate in Athens, helping care for the well-being of the kids.”

— with files from Postmedia News

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