Five people are due to appear in Limassol court on Wednesday over the murder of businessman Stavros Demosthenous.

A 31-year-old Georgian man, currently on remand as an accessory and thought to have helped his 28-year-old relative flee the country after the killing, was re-arrested on Tuesday, and is now thought to have played a more central role in the killing.

The re-arrest relates to alleged offences of premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit a felony.

The court will also review the detention of two other suspects, aged 59 and 30, linked to the purchase of a vehicle connected to the case. Their current eight-day detention expires on Wednesday, and authorities intend to seek an extension.

A 44-year-old former footballer and a 51-year-old man, connected to a stolen Mitsubishi Colt containing DNA and flammable material, are also awaiting custody decisions. Defence lawyers have contested the ongoing detention, arguing their clients were not involved and describing the measures as punitive. The 44-year-old’s lawyer said his client fully cooperated with investigators.

Police investigator inspector Elias Kreouzos noted discrepancies in the 51-year-old suspect’s statements, including his movements on the day of the murder. The Mitsubishi Colt has been linked to individuals seen driving the killers’ van.

Prosecutors requested that the 44-year-old suspect remain handcuffed during court proceedings, citing flight risk, a measure approved by the court.

Telecommunications data is under scrutiny, revealing significant contacts between some suspects before and after the murder.

On October 17, 49-year-old businessman and former football club chairman Demosthenous was shot dead while riding in the passenger seat of a car driven by his 18-year-old son, near their home in the Ayios Athanasios suburb of Limassol.

The attack came from a vehicle travelling ahead of the victim’s car, with police concluding the murder had been carefully planned.

Since the killing, nine people have been arrested, although one has since been released. The eight remaining suspects are in custody, with extradition proceedings pending against two in Greece.

Authorities are also examining a mobile phone found in a suspect’s possession at Limassol police headquarters.

The device, reportedly given to him by another detainee, has been sent for forensic analysis to determine whether it contains material relevant to the case.