Teen admits killing 6-year-old in Greece, highlighting neglect of Roma

A 15-year-old Roma boy in northern Greece has admitted sexually assaulting and killing another Roma boy, triggering an outcry against government neglect of the Roma community.

The 6-year-old victim, who was deaf, was found missing on Sunday. His dead body was discovered on Monday near his home. The teenager, who is also deaf, was detained a few hours later and according to police sources, confessed to the killing.

Coroner Nikos Kifnidis on Tuesday concluded that the victim was sexually assaulted and strangled, AMNA news agency reported.

Neither the victim nor the suspect was attending school, neighbors told police.

Local police said the 15-year-old suspect had been detained for the attempted rape of a mentally retarded 22-year-old last year.

According to sources within the Roma community, the teenager himself had been a victim of sexual abuse and maltreatment in the past.

There are about 300,000 Roma people, also known as Gypsies, living across Greece and they have been complaining about chronic neglect by the government and discrimination among society.

Despite funds allocated in recent years for Roma social inclusion, Roma in Greece still face high rates of poverty, child labor and abuse and low school attendance. Endi