ALL OF Cyprus was left stunned yesterday following the murder of Sigma boss Andis Hadjicostis on Monday night.
Political figures, the Archbishop, journalists’ and even President Demetris Christofias paid tribute to the 41-year-old whose life was taken so suddenly.
By yesterday afternoon police were nowhere nearer to uncovering who was behind the 8.40pm shooting. “We have nothing tangible as yet,” said Nicosia CID assistant chief Andreas Christodoulou.
The senior officer said police were questioning friends and family of the deceased but that so far they had found no motive for the senseless killing.
State pathologist Sophoclis Sophocleous who carried out the autopsy on Hadjicostis’ remains said he had been killed instantly by two shots – one to the chest and one to the back – with a sawn-off shotgun. “Cause of death was severe thoracic injury,” he said.
Eyewitnesses place two suspects wearing crash helmets at the scene of the crime; one who shot Hadjicostis just outside his home as he was getting out of his car and a second man who was riding a motorbike and picked up the shooter before speeding off into the night.
The police are said to be keen to examine CCTV footage from security cameras of neighbouring houses and the nearby US Embassy.
At around noon yesterday Engomi municipality sent around a rapid reaction crew to clean up the crime scene located just off a side street by Eleon swimming pool. Three employees scrubbed away at the ground to get rid of any traces of blood while a police officer kept watch. A neighbour came out on to his balcony and looked on at the now empty street. Gone was the glaring yellow police tape from the night before, and the crowds of onlookers who had flocked to the scene as news of the Sigma managing director’s death broke. Instead the house stood eerily empty, it’s shutters drawn almost as if in mourning.
Earlier in the day CID officers combed the area outside the house, gathering evidence in an effort to find anything that would shed some light on the killing.
Authorities vowed to leave no stone unturned in solving the crime and on Monday night Nicosia CID officers met with Justice Minister Loucas Louca to discuss what evidence police had gathered so far.
Meanwhile President Christofias interrupted yesterday’s Cyprus problem talks with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat to pay his condolences to Hadjicostis’ family at the 41-year-old’s paternal home.
“One can only express abhorrence about such kinds of acts. Irrespective of our beliefs, I have always had a very good relationship with Costis (Hadjicosti, Andi’s father) and Andi, and my grief is even greater in light of our acquaintance and our friendly family relations,” he said.
“I want to express my deepest condolences to Andi’s wife, his mother and his father and to wish them courage. I want to believe and believe that the police will exhaust all avenues to shed light on this heinous crime,” Christofias added.
All political parties and a number of business unions and associations, as well as Nicosia mayor Eleni Mavrou, released statements expressing their deepest sorrow at Hadjicostis’ untimely loss and their revulsion at how his life had been taken.
The House Commerce, Communication and Works, Watchdog and European Affairs Committees all postponed yesterday’s scheduled meetings in light of the murder.
House speaker Marios Garoyian also condemned the killing.
“He was a great person, a friend, a person who never harmed anyone…We will not let lawlessness, crime or murders prevail. Our democracy is strong enough to withstand all of this,” Garoyian said.
Last night, more than 100 employees from Sigma TV held a candle-lit procession from the channel’s studios to the scene of the crime, retracing the journey Hadjicostis made every day.
Hadjicostis’ funeral will take place today at 2pm at the Agioi Omoloyites Church. The family will accept condolences from 12.30pm till 2pm at the Church. The burial will take place at the new Constantino and Eleni cemetery.
