Nicosia Permanent Assize Court will deliver its ruling on 18 December regarding the second “trial within a trial” on the admissibility of statements given by German estate agent Eva Isabella Künzel.
Künzel faces charges linked to the usurpation of Greek-Cypriot properties in the occupied areas, promotion of illegal transactions, and money laundering between 2023 and 2024.
Prosecution argues statement was voluntary
Monday’s hearing featured lengthy submissions from both sides. Prosecutor Anna Matthaiou insisted that Künzel’s statement and subsequent interview were voluntary and independent of any earlier illegality.
She stressed that the court had ruled the search of the defendant’s luggage upon arrival unlawful, but not the arrest itself. Künzel received renewed notification of her right to a lawyer the same day and spoke at length with counsel from the following day.
Matthaiou argued that the “fruit of the poisonous tree” doctrine does not automatically exclude later statements, noting that the defendant gave both the declaration and the interview freely, without pressure or inducement.
She maintained that even if parts of the interview were excluded, the attached declaration would remain admissible.
Defence demands full exclusion
Defence counsel Soteris Argyrou countered that no case law supports splitting a defendant’s statement or removing specific questions, answers, or attachments.
He argued that the declaration and interview form a single exhibit, leaving the court only two options: accept everything or exclude everything. The defence therefore called for complete exclusion of the evidence.
The court will announce its decision at 10:00 am on 18 December.
Also read: Trikomo Greek Cypriots “trial” resumes 9 and 11 December
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