A 41-year-old Bulgarian, Georgi Marinov Ivanov, died after being stabbed in the abdomen and rushed to Paphos General Hospital with the knife still embedded. Police investigate Saturday’s pre-midnight premeditated murder in Peyia.
A 30-year-old suspect, his nephew, appeared in Paphos District Court on Sunday and received an eight-day remand. He admitted stabbing the victim but claimed no intent to kill.
Deputy Sergeant Andreas Hatzivasilis of Paphos CID told the court the suspect faces charges of premeditated murder, intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and carrying a knife.
Incident unfolds in Peyia
Around 23:40 Saturday, Peyia police received reports of a brawl at a specific address. Officers found the 30-year-old outside his home; his car, parked 50 metres away, had front-end damage and a shattered rear passenger-side window. The scene was secured.
At 00:15, a vehicle with five people stopped Paphos MMAD patrol officers, reporting a stabbing victim needing hospital transport. Officers escorted them; the car was sealed and towed for forensics.
Examinations confirmed the 41-year-old had a black-handled knife in his right abdomen. He was rushed to ICU, operated on, and pronounced dead at 04:00, transferred to morgue.
A 29-year-old passenger had abrasions and friction burns, received treatment, and was detained; three other Bulgarians were in the vehicle.
Family dispute turns deadly
Inquiries revealed the group travelled from Limassol to resolve a prior dispute with the suspect, reportedly began with a series of insults traded on TikTok. He parked directly in front of them; after brief talk, the victim struck the car window with wood, causing damage.
The suspect, holding a large-bladed knife, approached and stabbed the victim in the right abdomen; the knife remained embedded. The victim collapsed, feeling unwell. The suspect then rammed the 29-year-old with his car’s front, hit a parked vehicle, fled on foot.
Arrested at 05:20 Sunday on warrant, his clothes were seized as evidence. He admitted the stabbing sans murderous intent.
Investigations are initial-stage: three statements taken, 25 more pending (mostly via interpreters from family, friends, colleagues). Four vehicle/premises searches and crime scene forensics by forensics team await. Court granted eight-day remand.
Three more arrests in Paphos
Police arrested three more men aged 34, 31, and 25 on warrants in the Paphos murder probe; all remanded.
A post-mortem examination is scheduled for 10:00 this morning at Nicosia General Hospital to determine the exact cause of death, while police are also analysing digital evidence from the TikTok accounts linked to the case.
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