Couple dead in murder suicide

A 32-year-old man shot and killed his estranged wife with his army issue assault rifle and injured his underage daughter before taking his own life in Limassol on Monday evening.

The incident happened at around 10pm at the 27-year-old woman’s parents’ home in Ayios Ioannis where she had moved with their three underage children.

Reports said the couple argued before he shot and killed the 27-year-old and injured his daughter, 10, on the hand.

The man then took his life with a shot to the head.

Neighbours and the victim’s mother rushed to the scene only to find the couple lying in a pool of blood and the injured child crying for help.

The 10-year-old was rushed to hospital where she underwent surgery, police said. Her condition is not life threatening.

State pathologist Nicholas Charalambous said the victim had a (unspecified) number of gunshot wounds.

The man died from a self-inflicted shot to the head, the pathologist said.

Reports said relatives were angry because police had taken away the weapon from the man following complaints about his violent and dangerous character but it was handed back recently.

Police said they will investigate the relatives’ claims.

The National Guard issues assault rifles to reservists, as well as ammunition, that they keep at home.

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