Bailed rape suspect held after second attack

A SUSPECTED rapist who had been out on bail was yesterday ordered into custody pending his trial after he allegedly broke into the home of and indecently assaulted a second woman.

The 26-year-old was arrested after his fingerprints were found at the second crime scene. The modus operandi employed by the assailant in the second offence was also similar to the first offence for which the suspect already stands accused.

The suspect has been charged with breaking into the home of a 50-year-old woman and raping her in Aglandjia on October 10 last year. He was released on conditions.

On Wednesday the prosecution filed a written request to have the 26-year-old held until his trial after he was connected to a second similar offence committed last Friday.

Specifically the prosecution told the court that police are investigating allegations that on July 23 a man broke into a 50-year-old Pallouriotissa woman’s home and tried to enter her bedroom. He ran off when he was spotted by her sister. The following night a man broke into the same house again and this time managed to get into the 50-year-old’s bedroom. According to the allegations the stranger stroked her hair and indecently assaulted her. When the woman started to call for help, her attacker ran off.

The prosecution said police had reason to believe the 26-year-old suspect was the perpetrator based on the similar nature of the crime and the fact that the target was the same age as his first alleged victim. The man’s fingerprints were also found in the second woman’s bedroom the court was told.

The court ruled that in light of the evidence presented regarding the more recent offences there was sufficient cause to detain the Nicosia man until the start of his trial on October 5.

With his shaved head and dressed in jeans and a black t-shirt the suspect leaned forward throughout the reading of the court’s decision, his elbows resting on his knees and his stubbly face impassive. When the proceeding ended, he got up, muttered something to the police officer next to him, and left the room looking unbothered.

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