Paphos criminal court granted a new adjournment in the case of premeditated murder of 58-year-old Ioannis Polykarpou, to give time to both sides to prepare admissible facts.

The next hearing was set in the morning of February 2, 2024. The court ordered that the 45-year-old defendant remain in custody at the central prison.

As reported to the court, the Attorney General’s Office rejected the recommendation to amend the indictment against the 45-year-old defendant from premeditated murder to manslaughter.

The defendant has denied the charges of premeditated murder, possession of burglary tools, assault weapon and cannabis, but admitted to the use of cannabis.

The last time the court convened for this particular case was in November, during which the court approved yet another adjournment.

Polykarpou was fatally injured when he was swept away on his motorcycle by a vehicle that the 45-year-old was allegedly driving. The fatal road collision occurred in the early morning hours of January 21, on Tombs of the Kings Avenue. The driver had fled the scene.

After the collision, the 58-year-old was taken by ambulance to Paphos general hospital, where he was pronounced dead.