Attempted murder suspect remanded until trial

In a packed courtroom, Paphos criminal court on Wednesday decided a 34-year-old man facing charges of attempted murder should be held in custody until his trial begins, to avoid the risk of him fleeing the country.

His mother collapsed in court upon hearing the decision and received first aid on the scene until she recovered.

The man denies all charges after being accused of shooting at a 31-year-old outside his Paphos home in Psathi. The incident took place on September 24 this year, and the latter sustained injuries as a result of the gunshot.

His defence lawyer Artemis Savvidou requested the man be released on conditions however the state prosecutor Andreas Hadjikyrou said the suspect should be held in custody, which the judges adopted. They said the 34-year-old ran the risk of fleeing and the possibility of carrying out other crimes.

His next hearing has been set for January 25.

The suspect, a Paphos resident, faces charges including attempted murder and illegal possession and transportation of a firearm, as well as explosives.

At 05:30am on September 24, the victim arrived home, after being out at a nightclub and parked his car in his yard.

At that time, the 34-year-old suspect, who police say was allegedly either following the victim or waiting for him at the scene, used a shotgun to shoot and injure the younger man.

The victim’s relatives woke up from the gunshots and managed to subdue the suspect, who was later arrested on a court warrant after being handed over to the police.