Man sentenced for stabbing unbegrudging friend

A man who stabbed his friend downtown Nicosia while being intoxicated has been sentenced to five years, with the victim reportedly saying he has forgiven his attacker.

The case dates back to February, when a 47-year-old Georgian national who was reportedly drunk was lashing out at another male, a friend aged 33 also from Georgia. The incident took place in the area known as the OXI roundabout.

At one moment, the 33-year-old insulted his friend’s wife and the 47-year-old then pulled a knife and stabbed his friend in the abdomen before running away. The victim had emergency surgery while the attacker was later arrested and confessed to the crime.

During his sentencing hearing in Nicosia on Tuesday, the court heard that the defendant had cooperated with law enforcement officers and volunteered to assist investigators at the scene of the crime.

The defendant’s lawyer told the judge that his client was out of a job during the incident and his wife had left him. He also said the man was battling alcohol and drug abuse and was drunk during the incident. The defence attorney also argued that his client had no mal-intent prior to the stabbing.

No grudges

The defendant submitted a written statement from the victim who reportedly wrote he had forgiven his friend over the attack.

But the judge said the crime was serious, even if it was an isolated incident between friends.

“This is about attacking the physical integrity of another person,” the judge said, adding that “the blatant use of violence, with total disregard to human life, physical health, and bodily integrity of another human being, will never be tolerated and will always face justice in a court of law.”

The sentence was five years without probation for causing grievous bodily harm.