Priest still in critical condition

FATHER Spiridonas Demosthenous, the priest of Ayios Demetrios church in Acropolis, remained in critical condition last night after being shot by the church’s 78-year old neighbour, Georgios Loizou.

The priest remains at the neurosurgical unit at Nicosia General Hospital and is being kept alive by a life-support machine.

Property differences are reported to be behind Loizou’s attack. Prompted by the extension of the church grounds into what he claimed was his own private property, Loizou waited for Father Demosthenous outside his house, just yards away from the church’s door.
The priest arrived with the architect of the church only to be faced with a livid Loizou, pointing a gun and hurling abuse at him.

According to witnesses, Loizou pointed the gun at Father Demosthenous and, although the architect tried to prevent it, shot him in the back of the head.
When the police arrived Loizou admitted: “I did it”.

After hearing the testimonies of nine witnesses and awaiting those of 30 more, police yesterday secured an eight-day remand order for the 78-year-old suspect.

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