Strovolos double murder trial gets ugly

A defence attorney in the Strovolos double murder trial accused a police officer of falsifying a document, prompting a heated exchange in the courtroom.

(Click here for an update to the story)

According to Cyprus News Agency, Police Lieutenant Stavriani Andreou took the witness stand on Wednesday during the ongoing criminal trial in the Strovolos double murder.

Loizos Tzionis, his half-brother Lefteris Solomou and another male, Marios Hadjixenofondos, are facing murder, kidnapping and burglary charges in the slaying of 60-year-old Yiorgos Hadjigeorgiou and his 59-year-old wife Dina Sergiou, both of whom were savagely stabbed to death in their own house on 18 April 2018.

Solomou’s lawyer, Miranda Angelidou, proceeded to cross-examine the witness on Wednesday where at one point she said her client did not recall ever talking to the witness to say things that were included in her police diary, essentially accusing Andreou of falsifying information.

Angelidou told the court that that the witness manufactured statements attributed to her client after interrogating Solomou, accusing the police lieutenant of falsifying her diary entry dated 27 April 2018.

The witness dismissed the allegation, saying she wrote the report based on what Solomou had told her during their conversation.

State prosecutor Polina Efthyvoulou also rejected the allegation, calling on the defence attorney to withdraw her statement and warning that the accusation was very serious.

But Angelidou insisted, saying that the witness had falsified her entry in full knowledge of the prosecution.

“I won’t accept insinuations from anyone,” Efthyvoulou replied.

Angelidou asked for time to inspect the document in question, with Efhtyvoulou objecting and saying this was a “long-drawn-out” case.

The court allowed the defence five minutes to inspect the document, while the witness said she had “no reason to lie” and the accusation is very serious.

Earlier this week, Tzionis changed his plea from not guilty to guilty on four charges, admitting theft conspiracy, home burglary, abduction of a minor, and possession of dangerous instruments. 

Tzionis, the main suspect and defendant in the case, has maintained he was framed from the beginning. No DNA evidence was presented pointing to the suspect or suspects, but prosecution says they have statements from defendants proving Tzionis killed the couple.

Another ex-defendant, Sara Shams who was Tzionis’ former girlfriend, is expected to testify for the prosecution next month. She is currently serving four years on burglary charges on the same case after she reached a plea bargain.