The Supreme Court has today dismissed an appeal by state pathologist Panicos Stavrianou to overturn the findings of coroner Doria Varoshiotou regarding the death of Thanasis Nicolaou.
In what was described as an unprecedented decision, the Supreme Court, whilst acknowledging a legal error by the coroner in not hearing the pathologist’s testimony, ruled that overturning the findings would not serve the public interest or justice.
The court noted that two previous inquest findings had already been annulled, emphasising that the ongoing criminal investigation better serves both public interest and justice. On these grounds, the court rejected Stavrianou’s appeal.
Although the judges found that the pathologist’s human right to be heard had been violated, they determined that nullifying the coroner’s findings at this stage would serve no purpose. They did, however, clearly state that the inquest findings cannot be used in any proceedings against the pathologist.
The case dates back to 2005 when Thanasis Nicolaou, a 26-year-old National Guardsman, was found dead beneath Alassa bridge. Panicos Stavrianou, as state pathologist, had conducted an autopsy alongside pathologist Nicolas Charalambous at the scene and subsequently performed a post-mortem examination. He concluded that the death resulted from a fall from height, ruling out the possibility of murder. However, after Nicolaou’s remains were exhumed in 2020 over suspicions of foul play, further autopsies showed he had been beaten and strangled.
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