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A woman accused of orchestrating the murder of her ex-husband, a respected Polish academic, has denied any involvement in the killing, claiming it was her current partner who acted alone and without her knowledge.
The 43-year-old woman, identified as Nadia, pleaded not guilty during her appearance before an investigative judge and pointed the finger at her 35-year-old partner, accusing him of “depriving her children of their father” and acting without her consent.
Her ex-husband, 43-year-old Przemysław Jeziorski, a professor with a career spanning over 15 years in top academic institutions, including Berkeley, was murdered on July 4 in Agia Paraskevi, a suburb of Athens.
“He did it all himself,” she says
Nadia admitted she had a strained relationship with Jeziorski following their 2022 separation but insisted she had no reason to want him dead. In her sworn statement, she described efforts to keep him in their twin children's lives, even after episodes of emotional and, once, physical abuse during their marriage.
Referring to her current partner, she said, “He deprived my children of their father. I never asked him to do this, I never even hinted at it.”
She also attempted to paint a dark portrait of Jeziorski, claiming he drank excessively, was distant from the children, and had begun a relationship with a woman she alleged used drugs, a factor she said motivated her to seek legal precautions over custody.
Despite these allegations, both the prosecutor and the investigator remained unconvinced, ordering her to remain in custody while the case unfolds.
Background of the case
According to investigators, Nadia’s partner ambushed the professor outside her home shortly after the man dropped off their children. Authorities allege that the attack had been premeditated, and evidence points to efforts made by the 35-year-old to disguise himself and cover his tracks. Surveillance footage and mobile data are said to support the prosecution’s case.
The suspect, however, has consistently taken full responsibility, claiming he acted alone out of emotional frustration over the professor’s legal disputes with Nadia.
“I did it to redeem my family,” the man allegedly told authorities, stating he wanted to end the ongoing custody battles and secure a future with Nadia and their 14-year-old child. He denied receiving instructions from anyone, including his partner.
She took a photo because she felt watched
One piece of evidence against Nadia is a photo she took of the professor just before his death, a move that raised eyebrows among investigators. She insists it wasn’t sinister.
According to her, the photo was taken on the advice of her lawyers, as she believed her ex-husband was following her and wanted to document the incident. She claimed she was at home with her children when the murder occurred and only learned of the killing hours later when she called police to ask if the victim was her ex-husband.
“He owed me money; I had no reason to want him dead”
Nadia pushed back against claims that she had a financial motive, saying that if anything, her ex-husband owed her money. She denied knowing any of the alleged accomplices and said she first saw them at the courthouse.
Despite the volatile nature of her relationship with the victim, she emphasized that the two had reached a mediated custody and support agreement with the help of a child psychologist, and she had no legal reason or personal gain to pursue his death.
“Despite the difficulties, he was not a threat,” she said in her defense. “I supported his relationship with the children. I even told them to keep his pictures on their desks.”
As the investigation deepens, authorities are sifting through conflicting testimonies, digital evidence, and forensic findings to determine whether Nadia had any role in planning or encouraging the crime or if her partner truly acted alone, as he insists.
Nadia remains in custody pending trial. Her partner also remains jailed, along with other individuals believed to have had some level of involvement.
*With information from Proto Thema
