Paphos, Cyprus. Convicted murderer Doros Theofanous has filed an application to reopen or annul his conviction, citing new sworn testimony that challenges the credibility of a key prosecution witness. The court has granted permission for the filing after determining the testimony had not previously been examined.
Application cites new sworn testimony
Theofanous’ lawyers said fresh evidence undermines testimony central to his conviction more than a decade ago. The application states that three living witnesses and one deceased individual provided affidavits claiming that prosecution witness Antonis Prokopiou Kitas later admitted he had lied in court.
Among those who filed sworn statements are former deputy attorney-general Loukis Loucaides and a prison officer. The defence said the evidence emerged only after Theofanous’ appeal was rejected in 2017 and argued it could justify either a retrial or the annulment of the conviction.
Original conviction and key witness
Theofanous was sentenced on October 31, 2012, by the Paphos criminal court to life imprisonment for the premeditated murder of his pregnant partner, Yulia Oporok, 24, and to 35 years for the killing of her three-year-old daughter, Victoria.
At the trial, the court accepted as credible the testimony of fellow life prisoner Antonis Prokopiou Kitas, known as Al Capone, who said Theofanous had confessed to the murders while on remand. Kitas was found guilty of killing two women and was linked to the theft of former President Tassos Papadopoulos’ body from his grave in December 2009.
Next steps
A hearing is expected to be scheduled, allowing the legal service to respond before the court decides whether the case can be reopened.
What impact could the new affidavits have on the court’s decision on whether to reopen the case?