The Limassol district court will announce its decision on April 4 regarding the request by the family of Thanasis Nicolaou for the return of his skeletal remains, which have been kept since 2020 at the Limassol public health office.

The ruling will also address two separate requests, one from the Law Office to retain the hyoid bone as potential evidence and another from the legal representatives of coroner Panicos Stavrianos, who seeks to challenge the return.

The proceedings began at 11.30am, with the family’s lawyer, Nicos Clerides, arguing that all forensic examinations had been completed and there was no justification for keeping the remains any longer. The parents of Nicolaou have formally requested the issuance of a decree allowing for the bones’ return.

The case has drawn widespread attention, as it concerns the remains of the young soldier who was murdered more than 20 years ago. His family has persistently fought for justice, and they are expected to appear before the investigator at Thursday’s hearing.

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The attorney-general’s office confirmed there was no objection to the release of the full skeletal remains but insisted that the hyoid bone should remain in custody, citing their potential use as evidence in any future criminal proceedings.

Additionally, a legal representative for coroner Panicos Stavrianos attended the proceedings, stating that his client wished to lodge an objection, arguing that the return of the remains could affect his rights.

However, the family’s lawyer dismissed Stavrianos’ intervention as “provocative,” arguing that the coroner had no legal standing in the case.

“He has no legitimate interest in this process,” Clerides said, emphasising that the family has already endured enough suffering.

Outside the courtroom, Thanasis Nicolaou’s mother, Andriana Nicolaou, made an emotional statement to the media, stressing that she does not want a reburial but wishes for the bones to be placed in an ossuary in consultation with the Limassol diocese.

“They killed my child, and I buried him once. The bones should be placed in an ossuary, and when I die, they should be laid to rest with me,” she said.

She also expressed her deep distrust of authorities, insisting that the remains must not be split up.

“I will not allow my son’s sacred bones to be scattered, with some here and some there.”

Recalling the two decades of suffering her family has endured, she questioned why her son’s bones have remained in police custody for over four years.

“Will they continue to torment me, desecrating his remains?” she asked.

Nicos Clerides reinforced the family’s position, condemning the coroner’s attempt to intervene.

“After 20 years of this mother’s suffering, to now forbid her from taking back her son’s remains is both legally unfounded and deeply insulting.”

He further argued that since all official procedures have concluded, there is no legal reason to withhold the bones.

“The forensic pathologist’s ruling is final, and the Supreme Court has confirmed that Thanasis Nicolaou was murdered by strangulation.”

Clerides dismissed claims that the bones should be retained in case of future legal action as baseless.

“The court does not operate on hypothetical scenarios of potential criminal cases. It must decide based on the procedures that exist today.”