Police are expected to take a statement from a man serving life for the Ayia Napa quadruple murder, after at least eight shots were fired at the Ormideia home of his 76-year-old father in the early hours of Wednesday while he and his wife were inside, Phileleftheros understands.
Police sources say the motive is not yet clear, but the leading theory is that the shooting was a new message to the 48-year-old convicted man from members of an organised crime group. Inquiries will therefore extend to the Central Prisons, and his business activities in Ayia Napa will also come under renewed scrutiny.
His 33-year-old brother escaped unhurt from an attempted murder in Ayia Napa in August, and police believe the two attacks may be linked. That attack remains unsolved.
The shots hit the front of the house and the pensioner’s car. The attack took place at 3am but was reported to police only on Wednesday morning, as the pensioner reportedly said he and his wife had not heard the shots.
Famagusta CID officers and the Criminological Investigation Service (CSI) examined the scene, collecting cartridge cases and other evidence for specialist tests. Police are seeking statements from neighbours and CCTV footage from the area to trace the attackers.
In the August attack, gunmen who had lain in wait a few metres from the 33-year-old’s home in the Kokkines area of Ayia Napa opened fire on his car at 5.40am on 21 August as he tried to turn right, hitting its right side several times. He was not injured and escaped by continuing to drive.
Shortly afterwards, a stolen Volvo linked to the attackers was found burning in an open area in Avgorou. At the time, too, it was thought the attackers may have wanted to send a message to the 48-year-old.
The 48-year-old was sentenced to four life terms in September 2017 for the quadruple murder committed in Ayia Napa on 23 June 2016.
