Britons accused for G/C’s killing plead drunkness

The Larnaca Criminal Court concluded that there is a prima facie case against Britons Michael Binnington, 21 year old and Luke Atkinson 22, for the manslaughter of Greek Cypriot Christos Papiris, 17, last August and for causing grievous bodily harm to his friend, also Greek Cypriot Marios Demetriou, 18.
The two accused pleaded not guilty and that on the night of the incident they were under the influence of alcohol and had no intention to harm anyone.
The trial adjourned until January 10th 2007 for closing arguments.
The third accused, 39 year old Briton, Julian Harnington, has already pleaded guilty for both charges he was facing.
The Cypriot police have said that the Britons who were on holidays in Cyprus, driving a rented vehicle, in the coastal resort of Protaras, had repeatedly hit the motorcycle driven by Demetriou and Papiris on August 17, 2006.
The two youngsters were taken to Famagusta Hospital where Papiris was pronounced dead. His friend was seriously injured.