Paphos, Cyprus. The Paphos criminal court will decide on Thursday whether the trial of suspended Paphos mayor Phedonas Phedonos, who faces charges including rape and domestic abuse, will be heard behind closed doors. Phedonos pleaded not guilty to all charges last month.
Request for closed proceedings
Phedonos faces five counts of rape, indecent assault, actual bodily harm, and administering a substance capable of intoxicating or neutralising another person’s resistance, among other offences.
Prosecution lawyer Irini Savva requested that the trial be held behind closed doors, saying this would be necessary to protect the complainant. She said laws governing trials of this nature allow closed proceedings for that reason.
Phedonos’ lawyer, Christos Pourgourides, had initially intended to object to the request but is now not expected to do so.
The court said deliberations on whether the trial should be closed should also take place behind closed doors, as discussion of the request may include elements of the case requiring protection.
Hearing schedule
The court said that following Thursday’s hearing, the next five hearings will take place on consecutive days from July 27 to July 31.
Domestic abuse allegations
Allegations of domestic abuse against Phedonos emerged after social media personality Ioanna Photiou, known as Annie Alexui, said she held documents relating to admissions of Phedonos’ wife, Louiza Andreou, to Nicosia General Hospital in 2017. The documents allegedly stated that she had been beaten by Phedonos.
Andreou has denied all accusations against her husband, writing on social media that her family was being subjected to a coordinated attack.
She said that people who know her, including colleagues, extended family and friends, know she is not a victim and has no fear. Andreou said she had lived harmoniously with her husband for 20 years and described him as a wonderful, decent and honest man.
Rape allegation
The rape allegations surfaced in February, when Paphos-based land developer Theodoros Aristodemou of Aristo Developers accused Phedonos of committing the crime around 10 years ago before giving a statement to police.
