Family of road victim support early release of driver

The family of a road victim have consented to the early release of a 44-year-old mother-of-three who was jailed in May for 16 months for causing the fatal traffic accident which claimed their loved one.

The accident happened on December 31, 2020, on Makarios Avenue in Aradippou, Larnaca and caused the death of father-of-two army officer Christakis Christodoulou, 35.

Following a trial, the Larnaca District Court in May convicted the woman guilty of causing death by a reckless or dangerous act, to which she pleaded guilty.

The convicted woman urges President Nikos Christodoulides to grant her a pardon so she can be released from prison and reunited with her family.

Her request is also supported by the relatives of the deceased, who are still struggling with the tragic consequences of their loss.

A letter to the Presidential Office is accompanied by a note from the relatives of the deceased, stating that regardless of the legal measures, they have no objection should the President decide to grant her a pardon.

They said serving the sentence will not help the deceased or them, but on the contrary, it is devastating for the convicted woman and her family.

The letter describes the special circumstances of the accident, the personal circumstances of the mother and the way she took responsibility.

It is argued that her immediate admission was decisive, as the case was on the verge of being dropped.

And the accident was not a result of substance abuse; neither had the woman exhibited aggressive driving behaviour.

The particular circumstances were not made public because of the ongoing legal procedures.

The woman’s lawyers argue that the accident has stigmatised her life; she has developed panic attacks, severe post-traumatic stress and anxiety disorder.

In addition, the woman suffers from thyroid cancer and is under medical observation. She is the mother of an 18-year-old and two children aged 13 and 14.