The much-praised trial of the six accused of the quadruple murder of Ayia Napa premiered with tensions, quarrels and arguments.
The proceedings before the Permanent Criminal Court of Larnaca started on Monday morning (40/05) with a delay of almost 09 minutes. The trial was scheduled for 9:00 a.m.
The delay was due to the fact that the room was small enough to accommodate the relatives and dozens of friends of the victims who were found early in the morning in the buildings of the Larnaca District Court.
It is worth mentioning that in today's trial, as usual, there were several journalists for whom entry was initially mentioned due to the narrowness of the space.
This morning, the Prosecution Authority registered a new indictment for the six suspects, in which the charges from 26 that were before became 20.
The fact that, unlike previous times, none of the accused wore a bulletproof vest made an impression.
Tensions between relatives, journalists and police
The relatives of the victims of the quadruple murder made their appearance in the Court early in the morning. Shortly before 09.00, the mother of the murdered Fanos Kalopsidiotis, Koula Theofanous, arrived at the scene, accompanied by relatives and friends of her son.
The first quarrels between the relatives of the victims and the police force started after it was announced that two representatives from each family will be allowed to enter the courtroom. Almost at the same time, it was announced to the journalists who were in the same area that only four people would be allowed to enter, regardless of the medium.
One of the witnesses of the massacre, who had been injured on the night of the murder, was initially banned from entering. The said witness asked to enter the room, which he was later allowed to do, with the intervention of the calmer ones.
On the substance (facts) in the next trial
September 19 has been set as the date for the trial to continue. It is expected that the facts of the case will be heard before justice.
During today's proceedings, the defense attorneys of the five defendants appeared before the Criminal Court, while Loy Dejan asked for legal aid and the President of the House gave instructions for a report of the Welfare Office regarding the financial situation of the 42-year-old in order to give him legal aid.
Sotira Neophytou's defense attorney stated that in the next trial she will speak on whether the accusation of synergy that Ms. Neophytou is facing can be substantiated before the Criminal Court, since, as she explained, this (accusation) does not exist in the criminal code.
He will also raise an objection due to the lack of jurisdiction of the Court to examine the specific accusation faced by his client. At the same time he asked for time to consult with the Prosecution Authority in order to agree admissible facts.
The six, four men and two women, are charged with a total of 26 offenses, including the crime of conspiracy to commit a crime, premeditated murder, conspiracy to murder, attempted murder, illegal possession and transfer of firearms and ammunition, possession transport and use of explosives, theft, arson and synergy after the commission.
The offenses were committed from May 8 to June 27, 2016 in Ayia Napa and Nicosia.
The six defendants are Marios Christodoulou, another 39-year-old Benny, Panagiotis Pentavkas, 38, Loy Dejan, 42, Sofia Grigoriou, 28, Sotira Neophytou, 30, and Charalambos Andreou, 32.
The facts
According to the facts of the case, on the night of June 23, while Fanos Theofanous Kalopsidiotis, 51, Elias Chatziefthymiou, 46, his wife Skevi, 39, with their two minor children, and Georgios Charalambous, 37, were having dinner at a restaurant on Katalymaton Street. in Ayia Napa, three unknown individuals attacked with guns and automatic weapons, killing the three and seriously injuring a fourth and another person who was at another table with a man from Serbia.
One of the perpetrators, Ganis Vogli, 41, from Albania, was also shot and killed on the spot.
In the previous trial, on July 17, the representative of the Prosecuting Authority stated that the charges against the six were life imprisonment, with the main charge being premeditated murder.
He also said that Charalambos Andreou is the main source of evidence on which the case is based, where he blames himself and each of the accused, referring to the role they played in the commission of the crimes.
The testimony includes, among others, the testimony of Sotira Neophytou, the testimony of the first police officer who arrived at the scene, the testimony of a person who, in connection with the testimony of Charalambos Andreou, connects the Serbian guard of Kalopsidiotis, reporting actions taken on specific date and scene of the murder.
There is also the testimony of a person referred to in an apartment located and rented by Charalambos Andreou for use by the persons who committed the murder.