Mechanic handed life imprisonment after stabbing victim 27 times

A 21-YEAR-OLD car mechanic was yesterday sentenced to life in prison for the premeditated murder of another man, who he stabbed 27 times.

Andreas Spirou, from Pallouriotissa, stabbed Stavros Georgiou, from Analiontas, in the head, back and chest when an argument over €540 got out of hand in October last year. Spirou had confessed to killing Georgiou and then dumping his body in the middle of a busy road in the Dhali Industrial area. The pair had fought over a payment of €540 made to Spirou from Georgiou for a car spare part.

Yesterday the court dismissed defence lawyer Elias Pekris’ claim that the killing was manslaughter, and handed Spirou a life sentence after finding him guilty of premeditated murder.

When announcing the sentence the court speaker said “we find that the murder was premeditated. The defendant’s testimony was dismissed as unreliable due to the fact that he has contradicted himself and his story on numerous occasions”.

Spriou said during the trial that he stabbed Georgiou after the victim had threatened him. “I was afraid of Stavros and that’s why I took my knife with me for protection. I didn’t want to meet Stavros but had to as he threatened to come to my house and cause damages”.

The trial had been a tense ordeal throughout for all parties involved. Friends and family of the dead 23-year-old harassed defence lawyer Pekris throughout the trial while on the first day of proceedings the relatives tried to grab Spirou and chased him into the judges’ chambers.

Yesterday in court there was a strong police presence and dozens of relatives and friends of the victim were wearing black t-shirts with his photograph across the front. On some if the t-shirts the words “Stavros lives and is guiding us” were printed.

After the sentencing the victim’s mother, Dora Georgiou, said “justice has now been done. He (Spriou) got exactly what he deserved not a day less.”