Father admits stabbing prospective son-in-law

A FATHER of three yesterday pleaded guilty to a vicious knife attack that left his prospective son-in-law paralysed.

Andreas Piskopou, 48, stabbed Sotiris Vassiliou, 26, three times on December 11 last year after an argument over Vassiliou’s decision to wed Piskopou’s daughter Ioanna, the Larnaca Assizes heard yesterday. Piskopou, from Leivadia outside Larnaca, objected to the marriage plans because Vassiliou is his daughter’s second cousin, the court heard.

The attack, which took place at Vassiliou’s home in Dhekelia outside Larnaca, was witnessed by Ioanna. Piskopou drove Vassiliou to Ormidia police station after the attack and later gave himself up to police.

Injuries suffered in the attack cost the victim the use of his arms and legs.

Piskopou yesterday pleaded guilty to a charge of causing grievous bodily harm. He is to be sentenced today.

The court heard that Piskopou had told police he carried out the attack “in a moment of anger.”

His lawyer, Marios Pavlides, pleaded for leniency from the court, saying his client had never planned the attack and had been under “severe emotional stress” at the time.

Ioanna and Vassiliou, who has been in hospital ever since the attack, still plan to marry, the court heard.

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