A 45-year-old man, suspected of premeditated murder after he was involved in a fatal hit and run, was on Monday referred to a direct trial before the Paphos criminal court.

Paphos CID chief and police spokesman Michalis Nicolaou said the suspect will remain in custody until the first hearing of the criminal court on February 24.

He is facing charges of premeditated murder and leaving a crime scene without providing assistance.

Police have arrested the man after he was involved in a fatal accident in Paphos last week.

At around 2am on January 21, on Tombs of the Kings avenue a motorcycle driven by a 58-year-old man collided with the car driven by the 45-year-old who then abandoned the scene.

The victim was transported to the hospital where doctors confirmed his death.

Police then arrested the 45-year-old driver at his house. He was also found to be in possession of burglary tools.

Police investigations revealed the suspect and the victim were previously together at a bar and were allegedly involved in a verbal confrontation.

Then, the suspect allegedly waited for the victim outside out of the bar and when the 58-year-old left on his moped, followed him and deliberately crashed into him, Nicolaou had said.

It is understood that the two men had a confrontation in the past as well.