Fifth autopsy on Nikolova, findings not announced (updated)

Pathologists last night completed the fifth autopsy on the body of a 46-year-old Bulgarian woman believed to have been mauled to death by two dogs in Paphos on February 22.

Greek pathologist Hara Spiliopoulou and UK-based Cypriot doctor Andreas Marnerides carried out the procedure but did not make their findings public. The autopsy took several hours and finished at around 8.30pm.

The two pathologists will be handing over their findings to the police in the next days.

 

This was the fifth autopsy on Petruna Nikolova who came to Cyprus from Bulgaria to look for a job only to die a few days after her arrival.

She was found severely injured in a potato field in Yeroskipou but died on the way to the hospital.

The initial autopsy by state pathologist Angeliki Papetta, found she had died due to haemorrhagic shock resulting from multiple injuries, possibly caused by farming equipment.

Three subsequent autopsies carried out on behalf of both the family and suspects indicated she was mauled by dogs.

The initial discrepancy prompted the attorney-general to ask for a fifth autopsy to be certain that the state’s case would be airtight in a court.

A 27-year-old man who owns at least five Rottweilers is to stand trial on charges of manslaughter and causing death through negligence. Two of his dogs, which have not been found, are believed to be the ones that fatally injured Nikolova. The authorities suspect the two animals were shot and buried elsewhere.

The man’s father, 54, had been arrested on suspicion of acting as an accessory after the events but he was later released due to lack of evidence.

 

 

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