Last week, it was revealed that police now fear Ben Needham could have been killed whilst visiting his grandparents on the Greek island of Kos.
Ben disappeared on 24th July 1991 when he was just 21-months-old and detectives have now told his mother Kerry Needham to “prepare for the worst” as they announce a second search for her little boy’s body in coming weeks.
A new witness claimed that digger drive Konstantinos Barkas, known as Dino, who was working in the area near the farmhouse Ben’s grandparents were renovating, may have been responsible for the tot’s death.
And now Dino’s son Valandis Barkas, has revealed that he once took a DNA test to prove he was not Ben.
According to the Mirror Online, the 29-year-old said: “At one stage authorities thought I might have been Ben myself.
“I can’t believe they asked me to take a DNA test – of course I’m not Ben.
“I am Greek with dark hair, Ben was blond and had blue eyes.”
Valandis and Ben were born two years apart, but he happily gave the authorities his DNA to rule out any speculation.
Kerry however had “no idea” that Valandis had been asked to prove he was not her little boy, and was amazed they considered it a possibility.
She told the paper: “I had no idea that this had happened. It’s so strange. I’m confused as to why they would want to test him. What made them think he would be Ben?
“What had given them that idea? It’s extremely odd. Over the years we have had many DNA tests carried out but I was unaware this was one of them.”
The Mirror also reported recently that Dino was protected by a “25-year code of silence” as he had a “network of contacts” across the island.
A source told them: “Everyone on Kos – and I mean everyone – knew Dino.”
Ben’s mum now fears that Konstantinos was being protected, which stopped people coming forward after her son’s disappearance in 1991.
We will bring you more on this story as it develops.
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