Three men acquitted of attempted murder charges over Kornos shooting

Larnaca, Cyprus. The Larnaca criminal court on Wednesday acquitted three Syrian men accused of attempting to murder a 30-year-old compatriot in Kornos in January 2025. Judges ruled that the prosecution had not proved their involvement beyond reasonable doubt.

Shooting in Kornos

The defendants, aged 24, 25 and 27, had pleaded not guilty to six charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, possession and transportation of a firearm, and possession and transportation of explosives.

The victim was shot in his right hand and shoulder while sitting in his vehicle in Kornos on the afternoon of January 9, 2025. He escaped and sought treatment at a private clinic in Limassol.

According to the case presented in court, he had travelled from Paphos to meet an unidentified man who had contacted him through WhatsApp and expressed interest in buying his vehicle. The attackers were travelling in a black BMW, which was found abandoned in Alethriko the following day.

Court finds reasonable doubt

After examining the prosecution’s circumstantial evidence, the court found that it did not establish that any of the defendants knew the attackers’ intentions or acted as accomplices. The judges said the prosecution’s original account, the evidence accepted by the court and its final findings showed that none of the three had been in the attackers’ vehicle.

The court also found it could not safely conclude that the defendants had assisted the perpetrators with the intention of murdering the victim. It said reasonable doubt remained about their involvement. Particular attention was given to the third defendant, who owned the BMW allegedly used in the attack.