The two men who killed 45-year-old Ayca Alav in Nicosia’s walled city are still on the run, police inspector Huseyin Zaifer told a court in the north on Monday.

Zaifer was speaking at a hearing of the two men who stand accused of aiding and abetting their escape following the murder and explained that following examinations of the pair’s mobile phones, it was learned that they had both held conversations with someone in the Republic regarding the facilitation of the murderers’ escape.

He said that after the murder, the pair took the murderers to an area near Ercan (Tymbou) airport, from whence they crossed westwards into the Republic.

Additionally, he said, after their arrest, they had both verbally admitted to their guilt.

Following the conclusion of statements, judge Zehra Yalkut Bilgec explained that the pair stand accused of human trafficking, which carries a prison sentence of up to five years.

“The consequences of trafficking suspects wanted for murder are dire,” and sent them to prison for a period not exceeding one month subject to the beginning of their trial.

Ayca Alav was found dead at the Hit Bit suitcase shop in north Nicosia, which she owned, on December 22 last year.

At an earlier hearing, Zaifer had said the two who committed the murder accosted Alav at the Hit Bet shop and tied her hands and feet behind her back with a seatbelt and an antenna cable.

Then, he said, they covered her face with duct tape, killing her.

After having killed her, the pair made their way to the bureau de change Alav owned.

In return for their troubles, police say one of the pair accused of aiding and abetting the escape received €50 in cash, and the other €100.

They added that they had successfully arrested the pair after examining CCTV footage.