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Three Syrian men aged 24, 25 and 27 have been acquitted of all charges linked to the attempted murder of a 30-year-old compatriot in Kornos in January 2025.
The Larnaca Permanent Assize Court delivered its decision on Wednesday, September 30, finding that the prosecution had not established beyond reasonable doubt that the defendants knew the people responsible for the shooting or had assisted them.
The victim was shot on the afternoon of January 9, 2025, while sitting in his vehicle in Kornos. He suffered gunshot wounds to his right arm and shoulder but managed to escape and later received treatment at a private clinic in Limassol.
According to evidence presented during the trial, the man had travelled from Paphos to meet someone who had contacted him through WhatsApp, claiming an interest in purchasing his vehicle. The identity of the person or people responsible for the attack remains unknown.
A black BMW believed to have been used in the shooting was found abandoned in Alethriko the following day.
The three defendants faced six charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and the possession and transportation of a firearm and explosives. All denied the charges.
Court finds evidence insufficient
In its ruling, the court concluded that the evidence did not establish that the defendants had been occupants of the vehicle used by the attackers. It also found insufficient grounds to conclude that they had acted as accomplices in an attempt to kill the victim.
The court examined the evidence against each man separately.
The first defendant was linked to the crime scene through a mobile phone found there, which contained genetic material connecting him to the device. However, the court found that this evidence alone did not prove he knew the attackers or had worked with them.
The second defendant was in Kornos around the time of the shooting. Other circumstances also connected him to the area and the vehicle believed to have been used in the attack. Nevertheless, the court found no reliable evidence that he knew the perpetrators or had helped them.
The third defendant, who owned the BMW, was not placed at the crime scene or in the village on the day of the shooting, according to the court's assessment of the prosecution's case. Nor was he linked to the unidentified attackers.
The court concluded that reasonable doubt remained over the involvement of all three men. They were therefore acquitted and discharged from every charge.
