Investigators are still shifting over evidence, but the death of Ukrainian Vitaly Shostak, 62, who was living in Limassol, is without a definitive cause, as his 63 year old wife, also Ukrainian, remains in custody being considered as a prime suspect, but denying she was in any way involved and telling police it was a result of self injury.
Shostak died from a stab wound to the chest and was found dead in his kitchen on Friday evening, with police saying they are investigating premeditated murder with the victim’s wife now under an eight day remand.
No surprises in the autopsy conducted this morning, confirming cause of death as internal bleeding by a sharp object, namely a kitchen knife.
Investigators are taking statements from family and friends as forensic examination of evidence found at the scene is also on-going. Testimony by the couple’s son, who arrived in Cyprus yesterday afternoon, is considered significant.
The suspect has told investigators it was her birthday on the day of the murder and they were opening gifts sent to them by their son from England, with whom she subsequently spoke on the phone and told him not to send them so many sweets again.
According to the wife’s testimony, at some point the victim went to the kitchen and there was no response when she called out to him after a short while. She then went into the kitchen herself and found him with a knife stuck in his chest, his shirt covered in blood.
As she told investigators, he fell to the floor in the living room, she removed the knife from the wound and left it next to him on the floor.
The wife claims that her husband inflicted the wound on himself, admitting that they had previously consumed alcohol and an argument followed.
