demosthenous murder — demosthenous murder — The trial into the murder of Limassol businessman Stavros Demosthenous continues on Thursday, with six defendants expected to appear before the Limassol criminal court under stringent security measures.
Among the defendants are two men aged 28, two aged 30, one aged 31, and one aged 51. They face multiple charges, including premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit a felony, conspiracy to commit murder, arson of a vehicle, illegal possession and transportation of a firearm, use of explosives, and vehicle theft.
One of the 30-year-olds has been linked to the motorcycle used by the assailants to flee the scene after Demosthenous was shot while in the passenger seat of a car driven by his 18-year-old son last October.
The second 30-year-old, currently serving a prison sentence for an unrelated case, allegedly directed the motorcycle purchase from within prison. This aspect of the trial highlights the complexities of the alleged conspiracy surrounding the murder.
Key evidence includes DNA belonging to the 52-year-old defendant, which was discovered in the stolen vehicle believed to have tracked Demosthenous before the shooting. Investigators assert that this vehicle played a crucial role in the crime.
The 31-year-old accused is alleged to have driven the van from which the fatal shots were fired. Initially arrested on suspicion of complicity, he was later re-arrested on additional charges, including ordering counterfeit registration plates for the stolen vehicle used in the murder. His DNA was also found on a hat that fell from one of the perpetrators during their escape.
The two 28-year-old cousins were arrested last November in Thessaloniki under a European arrest warrant. One cousin is believed to have fired the fatal shots, while the other allegedly assisted the getaway in an SUV after the motorcycle was abandoned.
Demosthenous, known for his role as chairman of Karmiotissa FC, was shot approximately 500 metres from his home, as reported by then-police spokeswoman Kyriaki Lambrianidou. Initial investigations suggested that the shooting was executed from a vehicle ahead of them.
After the shooting, Demosthenous’ son drove them to the hospital but crashed on the motorway. He managed to flag down a passing vehicle to continue to the hospital, where his father was pronounced dead. Fortunately, the son was not physically harmed during the incident.
Police investigations revealed that the bullets that killed Demosthenous likely came from the van that was later found burnt. Additionally, the motorcycle, implicated in the killing, was recovered abandoned in the Limassol area.
