Prosecutors rush hit and run trial in Paphos

The driver of the second vehicle involved in a fatal hit and run in Paphos remains behind bars as he faces vehicular homicide charges next year, but police say they have very little to go on except a broken side mirror when it comes to tracking down the first car that struck the victim.

Viewer discretion advised below – video shows scenes that may be disturbing

Local media on Monday said state prosecutors in Paphos were moving forward with the trial of a 44-year-old local male who was arrested last week in connection with a fatal hit and run on December 19. The suspect, who was arrested two days after the incident, had been initially remanded for six days while the case against him was filed on the day the remand was set to expire.

Video footage from the scene of the accident shows a vehicle striking 60-year-old Androula Papachristoforou as she was trying to cross Priamou street, with the driver o the vehicle failing to stop and a male pedestrian trying to approach the woman who was on the asphalt.

As the man approached, the video showed Papachristoforou being run over a second time by another car, with the Good Samaritan grabbing his head in frustration, while another piece of footage showed the driver stopping and exiting the vehicle before getting back inside and driving away.

Police were quick to locate the second car and make an arrest based on a piece of a bumper cover that broke off at the scene and, with reports saying the suspect was allegedly carrying out maintenance work on the vehicle outside his home.

Local media said police also had help from an eye witness concerning the suspect linked to the second vehicle but it was not clear whether the car was registered to him.

According to Kathimerini Cyprus, the suspect says he had been test driving the car in the previous days but told the judge he was not the driver on Sunday evening when the incident took place.

The suspect was ordered to remain in pre-trial detention until a bail hearing on December 30. His trial has been scheduled for February 3, when he is expected to be arraigned before a district judge on charges of vehicular manslaughter, reckless driving, and leaving the scene of an accident.

Police told Knews they had no information or description to share with the public concerning the first vehicle that struck Papachristoforou, but local media said it appeared to be a Toyota based on a side mirror that was found at the scene of the accident.

According to local reports, only three Toyota car models match the broken side mirror.

Papachristoforou reportedly died in the ER some two hours after the hit and run. Her nephew was later arrested on burglary and theft charges when it emerged that her home was burglarized possibly after local media reported on her death.