Murder suspect has confessed, police say

A 32-YEAR-OLD man who was remanded on Saturday in connection with the death of a 46-year-old man whose body was discovered in an abandoned hotel last week has offered a signed confession, police said on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old resident of Larnaca’s Vryssoules, was remanded by Larnaca district court on Saturday, but had refused to cooperate with the police and was refusing a medical examination in connection with some scratches on his right hand, police spokesman Andreas Angelides said at the time.

Police confirmed on Wednesday they had received a written confession by the 32-year-old whose remand order is expected to be renewed on Saturday to allow police to investigate new data.

Angelos Phedonos was found dead in the lobby of the abandoned Beau Rivage hotel on the Larnaca-Dhekelia coastline last Thursday evening, a day after his family reported him missing to the police. He had taken five blows to the head, and a wooden handle of a hoe was found on the murder scene. Phedonos’ car was found abandoned in a plot nearby.

Police sources said they discovered the victim’s mobile phone in the car and discovered a connection between the suspect and the victim via telecommunications data which showed 67 mobile phone exchanges between the two of them.

The sources added that the victim and the suspect knew each other with the 32-year-old placing classified ads for massage services, but that the relationship between them had deteriorated. The 32-year-old was arrested last Friday. DNA test results are still pending.

 

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