THE CRIMINAL Court presiding over the double-murder trial of a woman and her lover yesterday visited one of the crime scenes, along with the defendant who was under heavy protection from police.
Christoforos Charalambous, 27, denies two charges of premeditated murder against his wife Anna Vasileva, 30 from Kyrgyzstan, and her 45-year-old lover Yiannos Demosthenous.
Demosthenous’s decomposed body was found in his Nicosia apartment with 38 stab wounds. Vasileva’s body was never officially identified, but charred skeletal remains and teeth were discovered in barrel outside the defendant’s home village of Askas.
Yesterday, Judges Yiasemis Yiasemi, Elena Efrem and Lena Demetriadou toured the crime scene at Demosthenous’ apartment in the Ayios Omoloyites area of central Nicosia.
The road was sealed off for 20 minutes by Z-Squad officers and police.
Charalambous, who wore a t-shirt and sunglasses, smiling a couple of times to the crowds of journalists, photographers and cameramen who followed the court as it entered the apartment and exited through the back door.
The crime scene was being explained to the court by Nicosia CID Sergeant Costas Sariyiannis.
Police believe Demosthenous was killed on August 1 last year because he was having an affair with Charalambous’ wife.
Officers say Charalambous snapped when he found out his wife had left him to move in with Demosthenous.
In his defence, Charalambous said in his statement that he went to the apartment and was confronted by Demosthenous, who swore at him holding a knife.
The defendant then claimed that he wrestled the knife out of his hands and stabbed him a number of times.
Police, however, believe claim Charalambous went to the apartment bent on revenge and with one mission – to kill them both.
Charalambous initially claimed he and his wife had escaped to the north, before leading police to a spot where they found the charred remains inside a metal barrel in an out-of-the-way area outside the remote mountain village of Askas.
Despite leading officers to the remains, Charalambous maintains both he and his wife parted ways in Kyrenia following a row and that he has not seen her since.
Forensics have been unable to make a positive ID on the charred skeletal remains and teeth found in the barrel because they were so badly burnt.
Forensic investigators suspect Vasileva tried to stop Charalambous from stabbing Demosthenous in the frenzied attack.
They believe Charalambous then turned the knife on his wife and killed her before dragging her to his car, cutting her up and setting her remains alight inside the barrel.
Police discovered pools of blood all over Demosthenous’ apartment and in the boot of Charalambous’ pick-up truck.
The trial continues.
