Court approves release of 51-year-old suspect
The Limassol murder case saw the District Court approve restrictive conditions for a 51-year-old suspect charged with the murder of 49-year-old Stavros Demosthenous. The suspect will remain free under conditions until the trial at the Assize Court begins on 24 March. The other five suspects were remanded to the Central Prisons.
Conditions for release
The 51-year-old’s lawyer requested a revised financial guarantee, reducing the previous personal and guarantor requirements. The court allowed a €50,000 bank deposit or cheque in place of a €10,000 personal guarantee and €100,000 guarantor signature.
In addition, the suspect will appear twice daily at a police station of his choice, surrender all travel documents, and be listed on the police stop-list.
Security measures and court proceedings
Earlier, all six suspects appeared before the Assize Court. Four face separate charges from the two 28-year-olds recently extradited from Greece under a European arrest warrant. Police imposed strict security, with full body checks for anyone entering the courtroom.
To streamline the indictment, the Prosecution requested a suspension of charges to consolidate the suspects under a single indictment. The District Court referred them back to the Assize Court, which will convene on 24 March.
Charges against the suspects
The six suspects – two 30-year-olds, a 31-year-old, a 51-year-old, and two 28-year-olds – face multiple charges, including:
- Premeditated murder
- Conspiracy to commit a felony
- Conspiracy to commit murder
- Arson of a vehicle
- Illegal possession, transport, and use of firearms
- Illegal possession, transport, and use of explosives
- Vehicle theft
One 30-year-old allegedly facilitated the purchase of a motorcycle used during the perpetrators’ escape after burning the van. Another 30-year-old, already serving a sentence for a separate case, reportedly instructed the purchase of the motorcycle from prison. DNA from the 51-year-old suspect was found in a stolen vehicle used to track the victim.
The 31-year-old is believed to have driven the van from which shots were fired. He was initially arrested for aiding the two 28-year-olds to escape via the occupied areas. Investigations led to a re-arrest for ordering fake license plates, and DNA linked him to a hat dropped by the suspects during their escape on the motorcycle.
Among the 28-year-olds, one is suspected of carrying out the murder, while the other allegedly drove the perpetrators away in an SUV after abandoning the motorcycle.
Also read: Limassol car fire destroys vehicle in Episkopi
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