A 31-year-old man allegedly played a central role in organising the murder of Stavros Demosthenous, including ordering fake number plates for a stolen car linked to the killing, a Limassol court heard.
Police presented evidence that the suspect visited a Limassol shop on 26 September and asked the owner to make two number plates with a specific registration number.
He collected the plates the following day without providing a registration certificate, promising to bring it later.
The plates were later found on a stolen Mitsubishi Colt connected to the stolen van used in the murder. Investigators said the suspect also took part in a “death rehearsal” with the perpetrators before the killing.
The 31-year-old was re-arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit a felony. He appeared in Limassol District Court alongside two other suspects, aged 59 and 30, who are allegedly linked to the vehicle purchase. Police requested an eight-day remand extension for all three men.
According to Sub-Inspector Ilias Kreouzos, the shop where the fake plates were made is located next to the 31-year-old suspect’s home.
Police also secured testimony that a person from Nicosia was involved in the murder and may have been one of the perpetrators who rode the motorcycle used to flee the scene.
When questioned after his re-arrest, the suspect said in writing that he would only speak in court.
Investigators told the court that a 30-year-old convict contacted someone from inside the prison via a mobile phone app and asked if they wanted to earn 200 euros.
The convict then put the person in touch with 30-year-old suspect H.S., who was supposed to arrange a motorcycle for transport to Larnaca. However, H.S. later told the contact not to proceed, saying “this action is not for a good purpose”.
The court adjourned for one hour to decide on the remand applications for the three suspects. Defence lawyers for the 30-year-old and 59-year-old raised objections.
Former footballer and second suspect released
Earlier, the court ordered the release of a 44-year-old former footballer and a 51-year-old man connected to the stolen Mitsubishi Colt.
In a 13-page ruling, Judge Ch. Midleton said the presence of the 51-year-old’s DNA on an object that existed before the crime and was not proven to have been used in it could not create reasonable suspicion beyond a theoretical connection.
The court said that while police were investigating a complex crime, the existing evidence against the two men did not meet the required level to justify continued detention for investigative purposes. The element of suspicion remained but was static and theoretical.
The ruling noted that these findings did not mean police must terminate their investigation into the two suspects.
The fatal ambush took place around 9:30 on the morning of October 17, approximately 500 metres from Demosthenous’s home in the Sfalangiotissa area.
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