Nicosia District Court issued today a five-day remand order against the fourth suspect in connection with the murder of Managing Director of ''Dias'' media group Andis Hadjicostis, Gregoris Xenophontos.
All objections and arguments put forward by the defence of the suspect were overruled by Judge Charalambos Charalambous.
Quoting precedents in both Cyprus and British case law, the Judge ruled that the six-day custody request submitted by the police and the prosecution was justified, having also taken into consideration the suspect’s previous flight to Moldova despite his assurances to the contrary.
Xenophontos having been in custody since Wednesday evening, upon his arrival by way of extradition from Moldova where he had fled after the murder, the Judge ordered his detainment for another five days.
Police intend to investigate money transfer companies in order to ascertain who was wiring funds to the suspect for his living expenses during his stay in Moldova and whether there is a relation established with other persons who might be involved in the crime.
Marios Papaevriviades, police investigator, told the Court yesterday that Xenophontos is considered as a suspect for premeditated murder, possessing and carrying a weapon and explosives.
He also said that according to the confession given by Theophanis Hadjigeorgiou, Xenophontos was the one who shot in cold blood Hadjicostis on January 11, 2010. Hadjigeorgiou admitted taking part in the crime.
Defence lawyer, Rovertos Vrahimis told yesterday’s hearing that the only reason that his client, Xenophontos, appeared before the Court is to be referred to trial before Assize Court. As he added, Xenophontos came to Cyprus not as a suspect but as a defendant.
Three persons are accused of the murder: Andreas Gregoriou, Anastasios Krasopoulis and his sister Elena Krasopouli Skordelli are facing charges of premeditated murder. All three deny any involvement in the murder.
The Nicosia Assize Court will resume the hearings into the murder case of Hadjicostis, on 9 and 10 September.
Andis Handjicostis, managing director of the DIAS media group, which includes Sigma TV, was shot dead on January 11, 2010, outside his house as he was getting out of his car.
