Five people will appear before Limassol District Court on Tuesday morning in connection with the private criminal prosecution brought by the family of Thanasis Nicolaou, found dead beneath the Alassa bridge on 29 September 2005.
The five accused – one forensic pathologist and four former police officers – face a total of 39 charges. These include conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, neglect of official duty, issuing a false certificate by a public officer, perjury, providing false information, destruction of evidence, and interference with judicial proceedings.
Majority of charges against pathologist
Most charges relate to forensic pathologist Panikos Stavrianos, who originally concluded that Thanasis Nicolaou died by suicide. On 10 May 2024, the third inquest overturned that finding and ruled the death resulted from criminal act.
Sources inform the Cyprus News Agency that defence lawyers requested disclosure of witness material on 3 December. The material will not be handed over during today’s hearing, as lawyers for the family will first seek certain clarifications.
The same sources say the defence intends to raise several preliminary objections regarding the procedure followed.
Also read: Thanasis’ mother denounces cover-up and corruption
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