Limassol, Cyprus. A preliminary objection was submitted on Thursday regarding the revised indictment in the private prosecution case brought on behalf of the family of Thanasis Nicolaou. The revised indictment relieves some of the accused from certain charges.
Proceedings and objection
During the proceedings, the prosecution submitted its positions in writing and the court was informed of the pre-trial objection.
On behalf of the fifth defendant, lawyer Adriana Klaedes objected to the way charge 30 is presented, referring to a multiplicity of offences and a reference to a crime that was not committed.
She raised questions including “who was convicted” and “which investigation determined the strangulation of Thanasis Nicolaou”.
Klaedes said the prosecution was attempting to indirectly state that a crime had been committed and that the conclusions of death inquisitor Doria Varoshiotou were “unfounded”.
Court timetable
The court reserved its decision for July 9 at 10.30am.
On the same day, the lawyer of the second defendant, Sotiris Argyrou, is expected to raise his own pre-trial objection concerning the reference to neglect in carrying out duties by a civil servant. He is expected to argue that the Constitution separated the civil service from the security forces, in which the accused was serving.
Case background
The case concerns the death of Thanasis Nicolaou, a 26-year-old national guardsman who was found dead under the Alassa bridge near Limassol in September 2005.
Those facing prosecution are forensic pathologist Panikos Stavrianos, former Limassol police director Andreas Iatropoulos, former head of Limassol CID Nikos Sofokleous, former deputy police chief Christakis Nathanael and former head of the Platres police station complex Christakis Kapiliotis.