TV PRESENTER Elena Skordelli, her brother Tasos Krasopoulis and Andreas Gregoriou will remain in custody pending their trial for the murder of media boss Andis Hadjicostis.
The decision was announced to a packed courtroom yesterday morning by Nicosia District Judge Charalambos Charalambous.
The ruling was met with bitter disappointment from the relatives of the accused, who had been hoping that their loved ones would be released until their February 22 appearance at the Assize Court for trial.
Taking into account the objections of defence lawyers Michalis Pikis, Marios Georgiou and Michalakis Kyprianou, Charalambous ruled in favour of the prosecution and deemed that the trio posed a flight risk and were capable of influencing witnesses ahead of their trial.
Charalambous based his decision on legal arguments opposing those of the three defence lawyers. Among other things Pikis, Georgiou and Kyprianou had cited their clients’ close family and employment ties to Cyprus as reasons to remain on the island.
Kyprianou also said Skordelli was willing to be released on any other terms including 24-hour monitoring of her telephone and any amount of bail money. The lawyers also argued that their clients would not influence witnesses because the prosecution’s key witness, whistleblower Theophanis Hadjigeorgiou, was already under police protection and any other witnesses, who had been approached before their arrest, were insignificant.
It is thought that the judge’s decision will not be taken lying down and at least one of the defence lawyers has confirmed he will be appealing the decision.
“This is a case that needs to be fought every step of the way,” said the lawyer, who wished to remain unnamed.
While Charalambous read out his decision, Skordelli and her brother kept their heads down. The 42-year-old media presenter, who looked tired and worn out, kept her eyes closed and her hands clasped before her. Her 20-year-old son stood by her side, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the judge. The young man has been at every court appearance to support his mother as have her brother, sister and husband. The 42-year-old’s younger son, who is a minor, has never appeared.
Less than an hour before the proceedings started Skordelli’s husband had been optimistic about the outcome.
When wished good morning, he replied, almost aggressively: “It is a good morning and all mornings will be good. You’ll see.”
Thirty-three-year-old Gregoriou, who is receiving treatment in hospital for a serious injury to his left leg in a bomb explosion last December, was allowed to remain absent from yesterday’s proceedings due to a scheduled surgical procedure. Nevertheless it is thought he will be made to appear on February 22 just as he was forced to appear for the referral hearing.
On Tuesday, Gregoriou was transferred to court by ambulance accompanied by a male nurse where he followed the referral proceedings from his hospital bed.
Hadjicostis, CEO of the family-controlled DIAS media group and Sigma TV, was gunned down on the night of January 11 just outside his Engomi home.
He was killed instantly by two shots – one to the chest and one to the back – most likely with a short-barrelled shotgun which has not yet been found.
The three accused were charged following the incriminating testimony of 30-year-old Hadjigeorgiou who fingered Skordelli and her brother as the masterminds behind the hit. Hadjigeorgiou has named a fourth man, Gregoris Xenofontos, as the shooter. Xenofontos has since given authorities the slip and is thought to be hiding out in Moldova with his wife and child.
Hadjigeorgiou, who confessed to driving Xenofontos to the crime scene on Gregoriou’s motorbike, and helping him escape, has been acquitted of all charges and allowed entry into the witness protection programme in exchange for his confession.
