Man re-arrested after run over victim dies

A Nicosia resident died in hospital on Thursday one week after he was hit by a car in what police believed to be a deliberate attempt linked to illegal drugs.

According to police, 38-year-old Nicosia resident Vladimir Shalida was on foot when he was struck by a vehicle last Friday afternoon, September 6, in an industrial area in the capital.

Shalida, described as a Cypriot-born resident, was rushed to the Emergency Room at Nicosia General Hospital where he remained for medical treatment.

On the following day, police arrested the driver of the vehicle in question, said to be a 34-year-old Greek Cypriot man who was remanded for eight days on charges of causing grievous bodily harm. An official report said police officers determined during the course of the investigation that the incident was intentional.

Following Shalida’s death on Thursday morning, September 12 around 3:20am, police re-arrested the suspect on premeditated murder charges as well as causing grievous bodily harm.

A post mortem was scheduled for Friday morning to be conducted by state forensic pathologist Sofocles Sofocleous, while CID Nicosia are carrying on with the investigation.

According to Kathimerini Cyprus, officers on the drug squad are said to be involved in the investigation. 

The story has been updated with information on illegal drugs possibly connected to the case