Police on Saturday arrested a 33-year-old game warden in connection with the murder of an elderly couple and were awaiting the psychiatric evaluation of a second suspect, 30, believed to be the shooter, currently hospitalized with serious mental problems.
The two suspects are brothers. The 30-year-old allegedly took his brother’s service pistol and used it to kill Savvas Sophocleous, 74, and his 78-year-old wife Kyriaki, who were found dead on Thursday night in a storage shed in their orchard in Ayios Ioannis in the Pitsilia area.
Limassol police director Kypros Michaelides said on Saturday evening that investigators had found leads early on connecting the suspects to the crime.
Michaelides said the murder weapon has been recovered and it appears to be linked to the scene of the crime. Police said on Friday they had found six 9mm shell casings at the orchard where there couple was killed.
Police said both men are relatives of the victims.
The autopsies on the couple showed the man was shot twice and the woman four times from close range. Both sustained fatal blows to the head.
Michaelides declined to comment on the motive but reports said the suspect shot the couple because they had not invited him to the christening of their grandchild last Sunday.
Michaelides said the suspect was currently hospitalized with mental problems.
“He had some health problems and had voiced threats against the relatives,” he said.
It is understood that the suspect had been hospitalized with mental problems a number of times in the past.
“But you understand that based on the law the doctors decide and any person with problems may be released,” Michaelides said.
Politis newspaper said police raided the house where the 30-year-old lived with his parents and managed to detain him despite his violent reaction.
He was taken to Athalassa hospital because he suffers from a serious form schizophrenia, Politis said.
The 33-year-old game warden is expected to appear before court on Sunday. It is understood that he will face charges for not securing his weapon properly. The alleged shooter will be examined by doctors to determine whether he can follow a court procedure.
