A 52-year-old man has confessed to killing Yiannis Argyrou who was found dead on Sunday, admitting to the stabbing during a drug-fuelled night in a private garage in Limassol, police told the court on Monday.

The admission was reportedly made to a 47-year-old woman who is also under arrest. She placed herself at the scene of the crime and confirmed that all three were present and using cocaine at the time.

Both suspects were brought before Limassol court on Monday morning, where investigators from the Limassol criminal investigation department (CID) outlined what they called “critical evidence and testimony” supporting the case. The 47-year-old, who receives public assistance and lives with her mother, was represented by a state-appointed lawyer.

She told the court she feared for her life and requested to be held separately from the male suspect. The 52-year-old, who is unemployed and lives in a village in the Limassol district, had no legal representation.
The court approved an eight-day remand for both suspects. Details presented in court showed that Argyrou left home on Saturday night for a walk with the male suspect. His mother grew worried the next morning when she saw his bed untouched and the garage remote missing. She found him dead inside the family’s private garage.

According to medical examiners, Argyrou had suffered a total of 19 stab wounds. His death was caused by haemorrhagic shock due to multiple ruptures of vessels and vital organs, inflicted with a sharp object.

Police say the trio had been using cocaine in the garage that night. Later, the 52-year-old was reportedly seen distressed at a café belonging to a relative, where he allegedly confessed to others that he had killed Argyrou with a knife. Officers were also told he had expressed intent to harm the victim in the days leading up to his death. When arrested, the suspect was found with a folding knife and a mobile phone. His bag contained empty knife sheaths, but the murder weapon has not been recovered.

However, a knife believed to have been left behind in the café is now under examination. CID Limassol chief Lefteris Kyriakou confirmed it is being sent for scientific testing to determine whether it is the murder weapon. He noted it is possible that a different knife may have been used, as a knife sheath was found in the suspect’s possession.

During questioning, the 47-year-old confirmed the drug use in the garage and stated that the man confessed the killing to her. Both had arrived at the flat where Argyrou lived using a vehicle registered to a relative of the 52-year-old. Preliminary checks showed the car had travelled to and from the scene during the night of May 3 to 4.

Police collected clothing from the male suspect, which appeared to be stained with what looked like blood. He refused a forensic examination. Officers are now reviewing CCTV footage from the area and searching two specific locations as part of the ongoing investigation.

Kyriakou told reporters there is a clear direction in the investigation, with personal differences cited as the possible motive. He said written testimony confirms the suspect had previously said he intended to harm Argyrou. He also added that although the case is progressing well, “significant investigative work remains before it is fully solved.”

It remains under investigation whether the 47-year-old woman was present during the actual killing, but evidence shows she was with both men after midnight on Saturday, when they were inside the garage using substances.