Son arrested in father’s death in rural Larnaca

The decomposed body of an elderly man was discovered in rural Larnaca on Sunday, with reports saying his son has confessed to killing his own father.

Police said a friend had filed a request for a wellness check on an elderly man, saying 64-year-old Frederick George Clifford had given no sign of life for the past ten days.

Officers on Sunday went to the man’s shed around noon, at a location in rural Lefkara, Larnaca district, where they discovered a body at a stage of active decay.

An autopsy at the scene revealed that the body belonged to Clifford, described as an English Cypriot, who had five wounds on his back caused by a sharp instrument.

Police said investigators later spoke with Clifford’s 25-year-old son, who reportedly admitted killing his father with a knife on August 9.

There was no immediate information regarding a possible motive, while some media reports said the two men were having an argument at the time of the incident.

Reports said the family had previous issues concerning domestic violence, with the latest complaint ending up in court in 2018.

Local media said family members were debating over the custody of a child, the victim’s young daughter, who remains in state foster care.

Police investigators confirmed that father and son had been having family disagreements, while an official report said the young man was arrested on premeditated charges.

CID Larnaca is carrying out a full investigation.