Remand in connection with man’s death

A man appeared in court and was remanded in custody for eight days in connection with the death of 40-year-old Greek national Athanasios Kotslis.

The suspect is a 38-year-old Iranian national, who was Kotslis’ housemate. He was arrested after Kotslis’ wife said she heard an argument between the pair before Kotslis fell to his death, and that the pair had also had an argument on Saturday night.

According to the evidence under review, at around 6.50pm on Sunday, the 40-year-old went up to his third floor apartment to pick up some of his partner’s belongings, which they had forgotten on their way out.
As reported, the 40-year-old did not have keys to the apartment, and knocked on the door for his roommate to open.

At some point, under unclear circumstances still being investigated, residents of the apartment building heard raised voices and then saw Kotslis on the ground behind the building.

Kotslis was taken by ambulance to Nicosia general hospital, where the doctor on duty certified his death. An autopsy later on Monday was expected to show the exact cause of death.

However, local reports suggest that the police’s initial investigation showed a part of the balcony had fallen to the ground with Kotslis, which may suggest the death was accidental and caused by Kotslis attempting to climb onto the balcony from the outside.