Man jailed for 22 years for 2020 murder

A Lithuanian man was jailed for 22 years on Tuesday for the murder of a woman in her Ayios Tychonas home last year.

His 25-year-old accomplice was sentenced to three years in prison for breaking into the victim’s house.

Mother of three Iryna Hurskaya, 36-year-old was found dead in her home by her 15-year-old son and a friend on October 10, 2020 while her two other children, aged 3 and 6, were absent as they were spending the weekend with her ex-husband.

Investigations revealed evidence against Aistis Mikalauskas, 30, who had previously been in a relationship with the victim.

The Lithuanian national was arrested a few days after the murder in Limassol and admitted that he strangled Hurskaya when he broke into her home intending to rob her.

The suspect, whose photo had been issued by the police, was arrested after being spotted by a man near the Four Seasons Hotel in Limassol.

His 25-year-old compatriot was also arrested and during interrogation confessed that he had broken into the house with main suspect but fled the scene when he realised that a second person – the victim’s 15-year-old son – was at home.

Mikalauskas, who said was addicted to gambling, admitted that he took valuables and sold some of them in Nicosia, while he dyed his hair in order not to be recognised.

After nearly 11 months since the trial began the Criminal Court sentenced him to 22 years in prison for the crime of murder and 18 years for robbery, as well as shorter sentences for other crimes, such as conspiracy to commit a crime and illegal possession and use of drugs. The sentences will run concurrently.

The 25-year-old was also sentenced for other offences in addition to the three years for his involvement in the crime that led to the woman’s murder.