A 58-year-old man will stand trial in Nicosia on March 16 for stabbing his wife and son to death and injuring his second son at their home in Ergates earlier this month.

The suspect, who has been in police custody at Nicosia Hospital, was taken by ambulance to Nicosia district court on Friday where the case was formally submitted. He was not required to enter a plea.

The trial will start at Nicosia Criminal Court on March 16.

The suspect was then taken back to hospital where he is now in the custody of the prison service.

The two victims, 52-year-old Androulla Avraxidou and 20-year-old Stelios Yiangou were found stabbed to death by Androulla’s sister Despo Avraxidou on February 11. Androulla had sustained 22 stab wounds and Stelios three. The eldest son was injured but managed to get away.

The suspect had fled the scene but was found by police hiding in an abandoned shed in the Halepianes area of Tseri a few hours later. He suffered injuries while resisting arrest and has been in hospital since. He has also undergone a psychiatric evaluation, which deemed him fit to follow legal proceedings.