Evangelos Socratous in Paphos witnessed a horrifying scene after hearing gunshots and later discovering his two dogs dead. The animals were allegedly shot by his neighbour, who claimed they had killed his chickens.
Speaking to Mesimeri kai Kati (a local news programme), the dogs’ owner described the incident as a “devastating day for all of us.” He explained that he and his neighbour, who is also a relative, had maintained a cordial relationship until now.
“He’s my neighbour, he knows the dogs, and he shot them in cold blood. He claimed they were killing his chickens and other birds he raises. Yesterday, he found two dead birds in his yard and accused the dogs of killing them,” Socratous said.
“I heard the gunshots and ran towards the area. I saw him there, and he admitted to me that he had killed them,” he added.
The 29-year-old suspect was brought before the court today, according to Sigma’s Paphos correspondent, Marios Ignatiou.
According to the journalist, the suspect confessed to the crime during questioning.
He was charged at the Paphos District Court with offences including the illegal possession and use of a hunting rifle, illegal possession and use of explosives, and causing harm to animals. He was subsequently released and will be summoned to court at a later date.
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