The mother of a 3-year-old girl found dead on an Athens beach has been ordered held in custody after telling investigators her daughter died accidentally at home, a claim that authorities find unconvincing, according to media reports.
The 32-year-old Algerian woman was remanded after a lengthy testimony where she denied the charge of intentional homicide.
She reportedly claimed her daughter fell twice in the bathroom, lost consciousness, and that she "panicked" and left what she believed was the child's lifeless body in the sea at Palaio Faliro.
However, her account is contradicted by a coroner’s report which found sand and water in the child’s lungs, indicating the cause of death was drowning.
The report did confirm the child had broken two front teeth, an injury consistent with a fall.
The woman’s lawyer said her client denies committing murder.
Police are now awaiting lab results from items found in a discarded bag, including a broken hairbrush, as the investigation continues.