Limassol, Cyprus. A 42-year-old man who assaulted a state prosecutor inside the Limassol criminal court after being sentenced in a kidnapping case was handed an additional four-year prison term on Tuesday. The sentence will run consecutively to his existing jail term.
Charge and sentence
The defendant faced a single charge of causing grievous bodily harm under Article 231 of the Criminal Code, an offence carrying a maximum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both. The latest sentence will begin once he completes the four-year prison term already imposed in the kidnapping case.
Details of the courtroom assault
The attack took place on April 3 moments after the same criminal court sentenced him to four years in prison for abducting a former partner. As the judges left the courtroom, the defendant shouted from the dock, “Four years for two slaps?” before launching himself at the state prosecutor while being escorted away by officers.
Injuries and response
The prosecutor suffered a fractured nose and swelling to her upper lip during the assault. She was taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment while police officers restrained the attacker inside the courtroom.
Pre-trial detention and apology
The court ruled that one month spent in pre-trial detention in connection with the assault case would be deducted from the new sentence. During proceedings, defence counsel told the court the defendant wished to express remorse, and in a statement submitted through his lawyer he wrote, “I have regretted my actions and I apologise. I was not myself. I know there is no excuse for what I did.”
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