An 86-year-old man who was killed in Limassol on Sunday was apparently hit on the head multiple times with a table lamp, a court heard on Monday.
Police arrested a 29-year-old man in connection with the killing who was remanded in custody for six days.
Widower Miltiadis Kleanthous was found dead on Sunday morning by his daughter in his house in the Linopetra refugee estate in Limassol. He lived alone.
A post mortem showed that he died from haemorrhagic shock caused by multiple blows to the head with a blunt instrument, possibly a table lamp found at the scene, state pathologist Angeliki Papetta said in her report.
Police told the court that the suspect was the elderly victim’s neighbour whom, police were told, had been persistently asking Kleanthous for money.
Kleanthous had confided to a friend that 15 days ago he was forced to give the suspect €40. He then asked the 29-year-old’s wife to return the money and she gave him €20. He was then visited by the suspect to whom he handed over €10.
A relative of Kleanthous told police that he had withdrawn €300 on the day he was killed but no cash was found in his wallet. His wedding ring was also missing, the court heard.
Investigators found there had not been a break-in at Kleanthous’ home, suggesting he knew the perpetrator and had opened the door for him.
When police went looking for him at his home, the 29-year-old denied any involvement saying “for God’s sake”.
He was examined by the state pathologist who found fresh abrasions on his back, arms and chest.
The suspect said he had sustained the injuries while trying to cook pasta, a claim the pathologist considers unfounded.
Investigators took the suspect’s fingerprints and genetic material for further testing.
He claims he was out with a friend on Saturday night whose car police searched and found 14 grammes of cannabis.
The friend was arrested while both his and the 29-year-old’s cars were seized by police for forensic examination. Subsequent searches of their homes, as well as the suspect’s and his wife’s parents’ homes did not yield anything.
Police told the court they had found a shoeprint at the scene, which they believe belongs to one of the two suspects seen coming out of Kleanthous’ house.
