Suspended sentence for arsonist in love

A NICOSIA man was yesterday handed a three-year suspended sentence for setting fire to a pub in Strovolos last year because he was in love with one of the women who worked there.

According to the man’s defence lawyer, the man had set fire to the pub after he had argued with a woman who was working there. She is now his third wife.

Presenting the facts of the case, State Prosecutor had told the court how the 41-year-old man had gone to the pub on October 6, 2005 and had a couple of drinks. He was reportedly seen having an argument with one of the employees.

The man then left the pub, drove to a petrol station and filled a small canister with petrol.

He returned to the pub in the early hours of the next morning, broke one of the windows and proceeded to pour petrol into the bar. He then set the petrol alight before running away.

Unknown to the 41-year-old, the whole incident was captured by a CCTC camera in the shop next door. He was also seen by one of the neighbours running away from the bar.

Upon his arrest, the man admitted the arson, telling officers he had committed the crime “out of love”.

Pleading mitigation, the man’s defence lawyer said that in the past, he had been extremely unlucky in love and life but that now he is a changed man with a new wife and a new house.

The court heard that the man’s first wife fell pregnant to his friend and his second marriage was to a woman who was later diagnosed with a mental illness.

Colleagues and employers were also called to the trial in which they told the court that the man was an excellent worker and a good character.

Judge Lemonia Kaoutzani said that the court had taken into the account the accused’s clean record and the fact that he is now a changed man.

The judge sentenced him to two years imprisonment before suspending his sentence to three years.
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