TENSIONS ran high at the Paphos District court yesterday when the 29-year-old hairdresser accused in the recent brutal slaying of his pregnant Moldovan girlfriend and her three-year-old daughter denied all charges.
The brief proceedings lasted around ten minutes, and police took measures to ensure no incidents took place between the victims’ family and the suspect ‘s relatives.
The hairdresser is facing charges relating to premeditated murder, illegal possession of a firearm and explosives, conspiracy charges; and interfering in the judicial process.
Police are refusing to officially name the suspect, although he is a well known figure in Paphos, often seen frequenting cafes, bars and restaurants.
Julia Oborok, 24, who was four months pregnant, was found shot dead in a rental car on December 12. Her three-year-old daughter, Victoria Pozidou, was found around 50m from the car. She had been strangled. Tests on the foetus concluded that the suspect was the father.
The suspect allegedly physically abused Oborok in March.
Ongoing police investigations also revealed that he was addicted to internet gambling, which drove him to bankruptcy and indebted him to private lenders.
Paphos police spokesman Nicos Tsapis said, “The suspect has been taken back to Nicosia central prison, where he will remain until January 23, when he will appear before the court as legal proceedings against him commence.”
The 56-year old mother and 54-year-old aunt of the suspect have also been charged on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a crime, collaboration after a felony, destruction of evidence and perverting the course of justice. They deny the charges.
The 16-year-old Greek Pontian girl employed at the suspect’s hairdressing salon who was arrested along with the suspects family members, was released without charge and will be called to court as a prosecution witness.
The brutal slayings of Oborok and her daughter have rocked the coastal town, with members of the public threatening to take justice into their own hands ‘if justice isn’t done.’
One local man told the Cyprus Mail: “Justice for these three angels must be given and will help their family on the way to peace and healing. We are all so angry and disgusted by the way in which these lives were viciously taken.”
Anger boiled over as emotional relatives and friends of the victims watched the hairdresser being led out of the courtroom, in front of a strong police presence.
