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The ex-coroner for the state, who originally ruled Thanasis Nicolaou’s death a suicide, reportedly shouted at the victim’s grieving mother in court this week, insisting her son “was not murdered” and died by suicide, reigniting public outrage over the long-running case.
According to the family’s lawyer, Nicos Clerides, the outburst came during court proceedings in Limassol, where the judge ordered that Thanasis’ remains and related forensic materials be returned to his mother, Adriana. The decision follows a nearly 20-year legal battle that has cast serious doubt on the initial suicide ruling.
“Mr. Stavrianos, through his lawyers, continues to torment this already devastated mother,” Clerides said during an interview with Protoselido on Sigma TV. “He had the audacity to shout in front of the family: ‘Your son committed suicide, and we will prove it. We have tests from a Scotland Yard anthropologist.’ I ask you, where did Scotland Yard suddenly come into this?”
Court rules in mother’s favour
Clerides described the court ruling as a significant legal victory for the family.
“The court issued two orders instructing the Limassol police chief to return Thanasis’ skeletal remains and bone slides to his mother,” he said. “It’s a well-argued and excellent ruling, fully aligned with the law and previous court decisions.”
Thanasis Nicolaou, a 26-year-old National Guardsman, was found dead in 2005 under a bridge in what was quickly ruled a suicide. But his family has maintained from the beginning that he was murdered, citing numerous inconsistencies and what they say was a deeply flawed investigation. Independent forensic findings in recent years have supported their suspicions.
Forensic expert seeks to reopen case
Despite the court order, the legal team representing ex-coroner Panicos Stavrianos plans to fight back. His lawyer, Andriana Klaidi, confirmed that her client will file a request to reopen the inquest.
“We have received instructions to request a reopening of the death inquest in the coming days to establish that the real cause of death was a fall from a height, without any criminal involvement,” she said.
She also cited new findings from abroad: “There is testimony from a Scotland Yard forensic anthropologist that supports Dr. Stavrianos’ conclusion. According to their analysis, Thanasis’ injuries are consistent with a fall, and there was never any evidence of strangulation or murder.”
*With information from 24News
