New remand for three new Guzelyurtlu suspects

THE three men arrested on Friday in connection with the murder of Elmas Guzelyurtlu and two of his family members more than two weeks ago are to remain in custody for a further eight days, a Turkish Cypriot court in Nicosia ordered yesterday.

With the arrest of the three on Friday, the total number of suspects involved in investigations into the triple murder rose to eight, amid reports in the Turkish Cypriot media that some or all of the suspects had been seen together at a restaurant prior to the murder.

The case has led to unprecedented wrangling between police forces on either side of the Green Line over who should try the suspects. Greek Cypriot police say they have conclusive evidence, which could ascertain whether or not the defendants are guilty.

However, they have repeatedly refused to hand the evidence to the Turkish Cypriot authorities, saying only the Republic possesses the authority to try the men. Furthermore, police in the south say that since the crime was carried in an area under their control, the defendants should be tried in courts of the Cyprus Republic.

Today the five suspects initially detained will appear before a north Nicosia court where police are expected to ask for an extension of their detention.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.