Simellides challenged over killing

By Charlie Charalambous

ANDROS Aeroporos was yesterday accused of having masterminded the failed hit on Larnaca gambling club owner Antonios Fanieros.

Tassos Simellides, chief prosecution witness in the Fanieros trial, told Nicosia Assizes that 30-year-old Andros hatched the plot for the drive-by shooting in Larnaca on May 29.

In a fourth day of cross-examination by defence lawyer Efstathios Efstathiou, it was again put to Simellides that he was in fact the architect of the murder plan and nobody else.

Simellides categorically denies defence allegations that he organised the attack and then tried to pin it on the Aeroporos brothers.

He said it was Andros Aeroporos who ordered and planned the hit, and sent his younger brother Panicos to carry out the contract.

Apparently the hit on Fanieros was planned as revenge for the shooting of Hambis Aeroporos, who narrowly escaped death two years ago.

The court has heard that the Aeroporos family believed Fanieros was responsible.

The witness previously told the court that he had been forced to take part (as a driver) in the attempted murder of Fanieros after he and his family were threatened by the Aeroporos brothers.

Three Aeroporos brothers Hambis, 35, Andros, 30 and Panicos, 25, are charged with conspiracy and the attempted murder of Fanieros.

When Efstathiou implied that Simellides had a vendetta against Fanieros, Simellides repeated his story that on several occasions he had warned the club owner that his life was in danger.

Simellides has also said he was good friends with Fanieros’ son Loukas and had no reason to want his father dead.

Father-of-three Simellides has already been sentenced to nine years in prison for his part in the shooting.

On Monday, the Assizes court will shift to Larnaca when it visits the scene of the crime following an appeal by Efstathiou.

The court agreed at the request of Efstathiou to visit all the places connected to the shooting.

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