Shooting suspects remanded

THE THREE men suspected of the attempted murder of 52-year-old cabaret owner Yiannakis Omirou, alias Ochos, were yesterday remanded in custody by Limassol court.

Athanasios Kaloyeropoulos, 37, and Christakis Christodoulou, 22, both from Limassol, and 38-year-old Charalambos Pittas from Kakopetria were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the incident.

Police also suspect that some of the men may be connected to the murder of 43-year-old betting shop owner Charalambos Psaras, who was gunned down as he sat in his car at a busy Nicosia intersection on July 1.

After taking a statement from Omirou, police officers immediately arrested Kaloyeropoulos, who, according to the victim, was one of the men who tried to kill him.

Omirou told police that Kaloyeropoulos and Pittas had for some time been planning to kill him and had been taking precautions. Christodoulou was later arrested on suspicion of being an accomplice to murder. Police suspect Christodoulou was the man who ditched the motorcycle used in the killing in the Ladies Mile area of Limassol.

The three men were in court yesterday and after a lengthily session, the judge decided that Kaloyeropoulos and Pittas be held in remand for eight days while Christodoulou would be remanded for four days only.

The case investigator told the court that they had discovered helmets and clothing matching the description of what the culprits had worn in the attempted murder in Christodoulou’s car. He added that in Pittas’ home, police had also discovered bullets and a small amount of drugs.

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