New gruesome details in Strovolos murder

The autopsy of the Strovolos couple who were murdered in their own home Thursday has revealed that the 60-year-old man and his 59-year-old wife were savagely stabbed multiple times and went into hemorrhagic shock.

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The victims, a Greek Cypriot couple, were a beloved maths teacher at the English School and his wife who was a Central Bank employee. Their bodies were found in a pool of blood in the bedroom of their residence at a central location in Strovolos, Nicosia. 

An autopsy later in the day, which lasted more than six hours, revealed that the man was stabbed between 25 and 30 times in the chest, puncturing his heart and lungs and going into hemorrhagic shock. The woman was stabbed 10 times in the neck, with knife wounds aimed at the carotid artery and jugular vein, also sending them victim into hemorrhagic shock.

Police in Nicosia were questioning the teenage son of the couple in connection with the double murder of his adopted parents, with morning reports of a burglary remaining unconfirmed but investigators not ruling anything out.

Initial reports that hooded men attacked the couple were later downplayed, as there had been no sign of forced entry into the house. Investigators reportedly are looking into possible CCTV footage from the area.

According to the initial account of events, the 14-year-old son had told police investigators that masked men, who were speaking in a Cypriot dialect and wearing hoodies, came to the residence and told him to stay calm and that he would not be harmed. He also said he managed to escape and run to a neighbour’s house to get help.

According to daily online Kathimerini, the son was being questioned in the early morning hours on Thursday, just after the crime had been reported. Psychologists and other trained specialists were reportedly present as well.

Sources said the boy had recently found out he had been adopted, after his biological Russian parents reportedly tracked him down and made contact. Knews could not confirm the report but police were also receiving other accounts, as local media also said there was friction in the home in recent weeks as well as a health issue in the family.

Inheritance question

Investigators are also reportedly examining whether there might be any possible leads connecting the crime with reports that the 14-year-old had been named heir of the two victims.

Forensic examiner Eleni Antoniou said the couple died from knife wounds that appeared to have been made by a very sharp object or instrument. Some media reports said the type of injuries were consistent with wounds caused by someone who might feel hate towards the victim.

Police investigators have not ruled out any scenarios and are evaluating a number of reports in the case.