The plenary session of the Supreme Court will announce its decision today regarding the request for a Certiorari order filed by forensic pathologist Panicos Stavrianou. The request seeks to annul the findings of the third coroner, Doria Varosiotou, concerning the death of National Guard conscript Thanasis Nikolaou.
Stavrianou is seeking to overturn the findings of the third inquest, which concluded that the tragic death of Thanasis resulted from strangulation, contradicting earlier findings that attributed his death to a fall from a height.
The family of the then 26-year-old soldier opposed Stavrianou’s request, arguing that the forensic pathologist “has no legitimate interest” in seeking to annul the findings, as his rights were not affected.
Legal objections
The objection was filed by the law firms of Christos Clerides, Nikos Clerides, representing Lefkos Clerides & Sons, and the law office of Leto Kariolou.
Critical decision ahead
Today’s decision is deemed crucial and is expected to determine new developments in the case of the unfortunate soldier.
If the Supreme Court rejects Stavrianou’s request, the findings of the third coroner’s inquest, which for the first time concluded that Thanasis’ death was the result of a criminal act, will be upheld. The criminal investigators would then take over the case for further investigation.
Conversely, if the Supreme Court grants the forensic pathologist’s request, Varosiotou’s findings—and the determination that the 26-year-old Thanasis was murdered—would be overturned. This could potentially lead to a fourth inquest, with no clear timeline for its completion.
Background
The third inquest concluded on 10 May 2024, following a trial that lasted over six months. Panicos Stavrianou submitted his application for a Certiorari order to annul the inquest in July 2024.
Thanasis Nikolaou was found dead beneath the Alassa Bridge in 2005. At the time, Panicos Stavrianou was the government forensic pathologist who conducted an on-site inspection and subsequent autopsy on Thanasis’ body, alongside pathologist Nikolas Charalambous. The original conclusion was that the 26-year-old’s death was due to a fall from a height, ruling out the possibility of foul play.
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