A 51-year-old monk accused of attempting to murder an employee at the Agios Neophytos Monastery in Tala has been referred to the Paphos Criminal Court for trial on 7 October.
The case centres on an alleged attack on a 53-year-old monastery employee during a dispute over the key to the monk’s cell. A 27-year-old novice monk was also allegedly injured while attempting to restrain the suspect.
The court reserved its decision on whether the 51-year-old should remain in custody until trial for 18 August at 9am. He will remain in custody until that decision is issued.
Defence objects to continued detention
During Friday’s proceedings, defence lawyer Alexandros Alexandrou objected to his client’s continued detention and presented a series of arguments in favour of his release.
Alexandrou argued that the likelihood of the 51-year-old being convicted was “almost non-existent” and said there was no risk that he would abscond.
He told the court that the monk is highly regarded by people in the Paphos district and has lived in Cyprus for the past 25 years.
The defence also argued that he has “very strong ties” to Cyprus, is a Cypriot citizen and considers Agios Neophytos Monastery his home, giving him neither a motive nor reason to leave the country.
The prosecution requested that the 51-year-old remain in custody pending his appearance before the Paphos Criminal Court.
Dispute began over monastery cell
The Paphos monastery stabbing allegedly occurred at around 7.30am on 7 August, according to the case history presented in court by the investigating officer.
The Abbot of Agios Neophytos Monastery, Chorepiscopus of Chytri Leontios, went to the 51-year-old’s cell and asked him to hand over its key.
According to evidence presented in court, the monk had been using two cells for around four or five years following the death of his father. His father had previously stayed in one of the cells, which the monk was now occupying.
The abbot was accompanied by other monks, a novice monk and the 53-year-old employee, who works as a technician installing locks.
The court heard that the technician was present so the lock could be changed if the 51-year-old refused to hand over the key.
The abbot asked the monk to open the cell, which he did.
After entering and seeing considerable disorder inside, the abbot reportedly said workers would be sent to clean it.
The 51-year-old allegedly responded that he would gradually remove his belongings himself before closing the door.
Employee allegedly attacked while intervening
The abbot then asked the monk to hand over the key.
According to the investigator, the 51-year-old refused and the abbot attempted to take it from his hand. The disagreement escalated until the two men were holding each other’s arms.
When the 53-year-old employee stepped between them in an attempt to separate them, the 51-year-old allegedly attacked him with a sharp object, striking him in the neck and right hand.
A 27-year-old novice monk then grabbed the suspect from behind and attempted to restrain him to prevent another attack.
The 51-year-old allegedly used his left hand to injure the novice monk’s right hand with the blade of a box cutter he was holding.
The novice continued restraining him but released him after noticing that the 53-year-old was bleeding from his neck.
53-year-old treated for neck wound
The injured employee went to the Accident and Emergency Department at Paphos General Hospital.
Doctors found a laceration to the left side of his neck and an injury to his right upper limb. His wounds were sutured and he remained in hospital for treatment.
Police subsequently attended the scene and located the 51-year-old.
During questioning, the monk allegedly admitted committing the offences, saying he had reacted because he wanted to empty the cell himself.
He is being investigated for attempted murder, unlawful possession and carrying of an offensive weapon, and knife-related offences.
The case will come before the Paphos Criminal Court on 7 October, while the monk will remain in custody pending the court’s decision on 18 August.
Also read: Cyprus police operations lead to 17 arrests overnight
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