Elderly man fined for lopping olive tree

AN ELDERLY man was yesterday fined £320 for cutting down his neighbour’s olive tree then giving it to a friend for firewood.

Andreas Kikas from Dhali had initially pleaded not guilty but then reversed his decision after both lawyers convinced him to change his plea to guilty. The plaintiff, Theodosis Nioulikos, took the stand and told the court that he had received word in June last year that his 66-year-old neighbour, who owned a piece of land next to his land had chopped down his tree.

“I used to earn money off that tree. I used to look after it and would collect about £30 worth of olives off it each year. And one day, the accused just went and chopped it down,” said Nioulikos. “I can bring witnesses to prove how much I looked after that tree.”

Kikas’ defence lawyer argued that the tree that got the chop was old, gnarled and was not able to produce olives anymore. But Kikas changed his plea after the trial was adjourned for a short recess and Judge Lemonia Kaoutzani ruled that Kikas, who is retired and supports himself and his wife on a £260 monthly pension, pay a £320 fine.
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