The investigation into the murder of national guardsman Thanasis Nicolaou is expected to receive an extension, pending cabinet approval, sources confirmed on Tuesday.

Lawyer Thanasis Athanasiou and retired Greek police lieutenant Lambros Pappas were appointed by the government in May with a three-month deadline. They were tasked with uncovering crimes linked to the circumstances behind Nicolaou’s death, as well as omissions surrounding the investigation into his death.

Nicolaou was found dead under the Alassa bridge on September 29, 2005. At the time, pathologist Panicos Stavrianos attributed his death to suicide, a ruling that authorities accepted. However, for 19 years, Nicolaou’s family has insisted that he was murdered for speaking out against drug dealing at his army camp.

In May, the third inquiry into his death ruled Nicolaou was murdered by strangulation as a result of criminal activity.

With the deadline looming at the end of August over the investigation led by Athanasiou and Pappas, an extension “is expected to be granted”, sources said.

The request is due to the sheer volume of documents as well as their content.

Already, Athanasiou and Pappas have gone to the scene where Nicolaou was found dead. They have followed the route between Nicolaou’s home and army camp – which can be seen from his family home. The same was done between the army camp and Alassa bridge, with investigators timing the distance.

Stavrianos has since filed for certiorari at the Supreme Court, seeking to annul the decision.

The investigation into Nicolaou’s death will plough ahead regardless, the Cyprus Mail has learned.

President Nikos Christodoulides himself the truth must finally shine over what happened to Nicolaou.

 “For 19 years, it seems that there were things that were not properly investigated.”