THE NICOSIA District Court yesterday rejected defence lawyers’ objections and issued a five-day remand for Gregoris Xenofontos, who was extradited from Moldova as a key suspect in the murder trial of media boss Andis Hadjicostis.
Judge Charalambos Charalambous invoked Cyprus laws and relevant decisions by Cypriot and British courts – making special reference to each case – and said he felt the authorities’ request for a five day remand was justifiied.
Charalambous said he took into consideration the fact that Xenofontos “disappeared” three days after the murder, even though he was aware that he was wanted by the police and despite his assurances that he would make a statement.
He added that Xenofontos, 29, escaped to Moldova – where he hid out with his Moldovan wife – until he was arrested and extradited to Cyprus.
The court took into consideration witness accounts and events relating to the murder, as well as evidence placing Xenofontos at the scene of the crime. There was also the fact that police needed to take a further 15 statements from the suspect’s relatives and friends.
Xenofontos is the fourth and final suspect in the trial for the Sigma boss’ murder on January 11 this year. Television presenter Elena Skordelli, 42, her 37-year-old brother Tasos Krasopoulis and Andreas Gregoriou, 33, were arrested towards the end of January and have been in police custody ever since in connection with the case. Xenofontos fled to Moldova soon after the shooting.
When Xenofontos was first taken to court on Thursday to acquire a remand hearing, it was said the 29-year-old was wanted on suspicion of conspiring to murder, premeditated murder, conspiring to commit a crime, possessing and transporting a gun, and possessing and transporting explosives.
The court also heard that a voluntary statement by Theophanis Hadjigeorgiou – the man who entered a witness protection scheme after testifying against the other suspects – claimed Xenofontos was the man who pulled the trigger and killed Hadjicostis.
To justify their remand request, police said they needed to continue investigations and take statements by Xenofontos as well as his close environment. They also felt releasing Xenofontos would give him the opportunity to affect other witnesses, or even escape abroad again through the non-controlled occupied areas.
Investigators also intend to compare DNA collected from the scene of the crime with that of Xenofontos.
Meanwhile, police have been visiting various money transfer shops to find out who had been sending the suspect money while he was living in Moldova and whether these persons were in any way related to the murder.
