Murder suspect remanded in custody

The Limassol pensioner who admitted to killing his 82-year-old wife on Monday morning and who was remanded in custody for eight days on Tuesday, carried out the murder for “futile reasons”, the Limassol district court heard on Tuesday during a remand hearing.

Appearing in front of the court without a lawyer, the man did not object to the accusations against him.

A police officer speaking in court confirmed that the murder took place due a disagreement over money after the man’s wife asked him to go shopping.

Head of Limassol CID Lefteris Kyriakou had earlier said the man went to a police station at 9:15am on Monday.

Police officers rushed to the couple’s home in Ayios Ioannis and discovered the woman’s body in the garden.

Allegedly, when he arrived at the police station, the 84-year-old was still wearing the same bloodstained clothes he had on when he committed the murder.

The woman was named as Giorgoulla Charalambous.

The woman’s body was found by officers with heavy blows to the back of her head, as the man hit her over the head with a hammer.

Police suspect that the man attacked her by surprise, while it appears that she was struck more than once, with some reports indicating up to five times. State pathologists are expected to determine the exact number.

The husband is due to undergo an evaluation by a state psychiatrist.

A post-mortem on the victim will be carried out on Wednesday.

Initial reports from the neighbours appear conflicting, as some state that the couple was viewed as quiet and friendly, with no indication that such a tragedy could unfold, while others claim there had been intense shouting between them the night before.

Limassol police said they have no records of previous problems with the couple.