Forensic pathologist Panikos Stavrianos has declined to appear before the two criminal investigators examining the death of National Guardsman Thanasis Nicolaou, citing previous allegations of aggressive behaviour by one of the investigators.
According to information obtained by philenews, the final report from the criminal investigators appointed by the Cabinet to determine the cause of Nicolaou’s death will be submitted tomorrow without the pathologist’s signed testimony, despite multiple formal summons.
Stavrianos was summoned for the third time by investigators Athanasiou and Pappas but informed them through his lawyer, Adriana Klaidie, that he would not appear due to alleged misconduct during previous questioning.
The pathologist had filed a formal complaint with Nicosia’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and requested the investigator’s replacement.
A summons from criminal investigators carries the same weight as one from police officers, with non-compliance constituting a criminal offence. The investigators are now finalising their report based on collected testimonies and evidence preserved over the years.
As previously revealed by philenews, the investigators are expected to conclude that the death of the 26-year-old National Guardsman was the result of criminal action through strangulation, contradicting the initial ruling of suicide.
This conclusion is reportedly supported by crime scene evidence, testimonies regarding Nikolaou’s experiences at his military unit, and the absence of any apparent motive for suicide—factors that initially led to the case being classified as a “minor” investigation.
Legal analysts following the case suggest the new report will likely share significant similarities with the 2022 findings by investigators Matsas and Alexopoulos.
The fundamental evidence remains largely unchanged, with no breakthrough revelations leading to the identification of those responsible for Nicolaou’s alleged murder, while key witnesses continue to provide consistent accounts as they have throughout the six investigations conducted over the past two decades.
The report is expected to assign responsibility to certain individuals, though not for direct involvement in the crime itself.
Previous investigations recommended criminal prosecution of four individuals for negligence or dereliction of duty—three police officers from Limassol and the forensic pathologist.
However, the Attorney General had previously decided against pursuing criminal charges due to the 17-year time lapse, while noting that this decision would not prevent potential private prosecution by the family’s legal representatives.
The family’s former lawyer, Christos Triantafyllides, had prepared to file such a case, but these plans were superseded by the current investigation.
