Convicted murderer still at large 17 years after prison escape

Seventeen years after escaping from Cyprus' Central Prison, convicted murderer Panagiotis Netzati remains on the run, with his name still listed on Interpol’s most-wanted list.

Netzati, a Turkish Cypriot, was found guilty of premeditated murder, rape, and kidnapping by the Famagusta District Court on August 7, 2007. The charges stemmed from the brutal killing of Yana Kovasova, a young woman he abducted, raped, and murdered in Ayia Napa on August 17, 2006. His crimes shocked Cyprus at the time.

The court noted that Netzati had reacted violently when Kovasova tried to end their relationship after discovering that he was married. In a fit of jealousy and fear of losing her, he abducted her, leading to her tragic death. Police later found Kovasova’s body buried near a cliff in the Industrial Area of Idali after Netzati revealed the location during an interrogation.

Investigators uncovered a gruesome scene: Kovasova's legs were tied with rope, her arms bent backward, and a black nylon bag covered her head, with a strap wrapped tightly around her neck.

Less than three months after his conviction, Netzati managed to escape from prison on October 14, 2007 and vanished without a trace. There have been persistent rumors that he fled to the Turkish-occupied north of Cyprus, living under different identities. Some reports even suggested he was an agent for Turkish intelligence, though these claims have never been confirmed.

To this day, Panagiotis Netzati’s whereabouts remain unknown, and Cypriot authorities continue their search for the fugitive.

[With info from 24News.com]