Gunfight in Xylotymbou

By Martin Hellicar

AN ARGUMENT over money led to a shoot-out between two Xylotymbou men in the main street of their village in the early hours yesterday.

One of the gun-happy villagers ended up in hospital with shotgun pellets in his left eye. Both men – Panicos Panteli, alias Shioferos, and Costakis Andreou – were later arrested by police.

The quiet Famagusta district village was rudely awakened just after midnight yesterday by the sound of gunfire.

According to police, Shioferos, 40, and Andreou, 30, exchanged seven or eight shots with their hunting rifles after a row at a local taverna.

Andreou was hit in the eye and was yesterday recovering under police guard at Larnaca hospital. Surgeons tried but failed to remove the pellets from his eye.

Shioferos was brought up before the Famagusta District court, convening in Larnaca, at midday yesterday. The court later convened at the hospital to remand Andreou.

Investigating officer George Economou told the court that the two men had been eating at a Xylotymbou taverna with friends and family when they got into an argument over money.

Insults and threats were exchanged, Economou said, and then Shioferos drove off in his car while Andreou returned to his home, across the street from the taverna.

But shortly afterwards, Shioferos drove up to Andreou’s home and fired a shot at him as he stood on the balcony outside his home, the court heard. Andreou was hit in the eye. He nonetheless rushed indoors, grabbed his own rifle and fired back at Shioferos, Economou said. Seven or eight shots were exchanged, the court heard.

After the gunfight, Shioferos drove off while Andreou was taken to hospital.

A friend of Andreou’s apparently took the shotgun off him and left. Police were yesterday searching for this friend.

Economou said both Shioferos and Andreou were suspected of attempted murder, using a shotgun in a built-up area and threatening violence.

Both men were remanded in police custody for eight days.

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