Rape suspect to go on trial next week

A MAN accused of raping one woman and indecently assaulting another seven will stand trial before a Nicosia Criminal Court this week.

Marios Christofi, 27, looked dazed and occasionally sunk into his chair in the dock with his head in his hands as state prosecutor Margarita Avraamidou informed the court that they wanted the defendant to remain in police custody until his trial begins on November 22.

Lorry driver Christofi, who is divorced with one child, was yesterday charged with 14 counts of assault, indecent assault, illegal entry and causing grievous bodily harm against seven different women between 2006 and November this year.

He was also charged with the rape of a woman in front of the eyes of her infant child last week – a crime which can be punishable with life imprisonment.

After reviewing the material evidence and case against Christofi, Judge Stavros Stavrou yesterday ordered the defendant to answer all 14 charges before the Nicosia Criminal Court.

In the early hours of November 7, Christofi is alleged to have broken into the home of a woman and raped her at knife point in front of her two-year-old child.

During the remand hearing of the suspect, the court had heard how the suspect had managed to enter the home of another woman, who was with her three-month-old baby.

Investigators say Christofi then forced her to go upstairs to the bedroom, where he pulled up her blouse and bit her breast. He then groped her.

Police, who had received a tip-off that the man behind the rape was the suspect, managed to get crucial DNA evidence such as hair strands from both women’s homes.

According to investigators, he has confessed to committing all the crimes.

He was also recognised by some of the victims in a police line-up.

Judge Stavrou ordered Christofi to remain in police custody until his trial saying, “The possibility of escape cannot be ruled out because of the seriousness of the crime.”