By Martin Hellicar
MINISTERIAL allegations of attempts to bribe the chief prosecution witness meant three Aeroporos brothers accused of attempted murder had no chance of a fair trial, their lawyer claimed yesterday.
The Aeroporos brothers Panicos, 25, Andreas, 30, and Charalambos, 35, are suspected of involvement in the drive-by shooting of Antonis Charalambos Fanieros, 56, outside his gambling club in Larnaca on May 29. Fanieros survived.
The Aeroporos brothers’ lawyer, Efstathios Efstathiou, told the court that claims made by police and Justice Minister Nikos Koshis on Sunday had violated his clients’ rights. Koshis confirmed that police had information that an attempt had been made to buy off prosecution witness Tassos Simellides with £200,000.
Efstathiou also claimed the unprecedented security surrounding the trial, and the wide publicity given to the case, further reduced the accuseds’ chance of a fair trial.
Armed riot squad (MMAD) officers patrolled the perimeter of the Nicosia court yesterday as the Aeroporos’ trial began before the Assizes. Entry to the court-room was only allowed to relatives of the accused and journalists.
Police fear the notorious Aeroporos clan may try a hit on 28-year-old Simellides. Simellides, serving a nine-year sentence for his part in the attack on Fanieros, was expected to take the witness stand yesterday but did not because of delays in court procedure caused by objections raised by Efstathiou.
Simellides has admitted to acting as the motorbike rider for the attack and has claimed Panicos Aeroporos, riding pillion, pulled the trigger while his two brothers helped organise the hit.
Simellides has also implicated Panicos Aeroporos in a machine-gun attack on two police officers shortly after the attempted murder.
Efstathiou told the court public opinion had already convicted his clients without trial and claimed the court could be influenced by this.
He also suggested it would be germane to the trial for the three judges to visit the scene of the crime in Larnaca.
State prosecutor Petros Clerides said the prosecution had not violated the defendants’ rights in any way and the court was capable of arriving at a decision independent of any external factors. He described the strict security as necessary and said there was no need for the judges to visit Larnaca.
The court went into recess for over two hours to consider Efstathiou’s objections. The judges then dismissed his claims of unfair trial and also stated there was no call, at this stage, for a visit to the scene of the crime.
The hearing was adjourned for today, when Simellides is expected to take the stand.
The attack on Fanieros was seen as a continuation of a bloody feud between rival gangs vying for control of prostitution, gambling and drugs rackets.
