A 44-year-old woman from Greece died after being attacked by her girlfriend's fighting dog during an argument in Gothenburg in April 2024. The girlfriend, in her mid-20s, faces charges of gross negligence causing death for failing to control the dog adequately and delaying medical care. The family mourns a social and caring person who loved helping others.
Antonia, 44, from Greece, moved to Sweden over ten years ago and worked among other things as a chef at a hotel in Gothenburg. In the summer of 2023, she began dating a woman in her mid-20s whom she had met through work at a nightclub in Stockholm. At the end of April 2024, a fatal dog attack occurred in the girlfriend's apartment in Gothenburg during an argument. The girlfriend claims in police interrogation that Antonia assaulted her, prompting her American Bully to attack.
"What I remember is my dog biting her arm. She fell to the ground, I tried to pull the dog off. He was so strong," the girlfriend says in the interrogation. Antonia bled out in the bathroom, and earlier medical care might have saved her. The girlfriend contacted SOS Alarm multiple times but did not let the first ambulance crews in, citing shock and cocaine influence.
Just before Christmas 2024, the girlfriend was charged with gross negligence causing death. The prosecutor argues her omission contributed to the death through inadequate dog control and insufficient measures for the injuries. She denies the crime and has a history of mental health issues.
Antonia's younger brother, who lives in Sweden, describes his sister as thoughtful and social with friends around the world. She loved photography, cooking, and traveling.
"She always wanted to help others when they needed support in their relationships or on a personal level. She was fearless," he tells Expressen. The family was initially shocked by suspicions of murder but believes the charge is too lenient given the unstable relationship.
Leif GW Persson comments that dog owners have strict liability, and such fatal attacks are rare—once a year or so. The brother calls for a ban on fighting dogs, and MP Fredrik Kärrholm (M) agrees: "It is obvious that these dogs need to be banned."
