Liopetri man admits grievous bodily harm as prosecutors drop rape charge

By a Staff Reporter

A 26-YEAR-old Famagusta district man yesterday admitted guilt to causing grievous bodily harm to a British woman, 22, and is expected to be sentenced next Friday.

Two other charges concerning abduction with intent to rape and causing grievous bodily harm with intent were dropped by the state prosecutor due to lack of sufficient evidence.

Diver Zinonas Mastrou from Liopetri was arrested in September after a 22- year-old tourist told police she had been brutally beaten and raped by three unknown individuals.

She said the three men had forced her into a car outside an Ayia Napa club and took her to an isolated area.

She was found the next day by local residents on the Ayia Thekla coast near Sotira and was rushed to hospital where she underwent two operations due to the severity of her injuries.

Yesterday Mastrou admitted to the grievous bodily harm charge and his defence lawyers requested time to study the pathologist’s report.

The defendant will remain in custody until Friday.

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