Thanassis Case: Private Criminal Prosecutions Filed Within Two Weeks

Private criminal prosecutions against seven individuals concerning the death of 26-year-old National Guardsman Thanassis Nicolaou are expected to be filed within two weeks at the Limassol District Court. This was stated to CYNEWS by the family's lawyer, Nikos Kleridis.

Mr. Kleridis stated that the prosecutions concern forensic pathologist Panikos Stavrianos, four former police officers who served in the Limassol Police Directorate at the time of the death, and two former National Guard officers. These are the same individuals who, according to the findings of criminal investigators Pappas and Athanasiou, could potentially face criminal charges.

The lawyer explained that the court must first accept the filing. Subsequently, the Attorney General has the right to suspend or not suspend the private criminal prosecution, in case of an objection.

It is recalled that coroner Doria Varoshiotou ruled that Thanassis Nicolaou's death was due to strangulation. Thanassis Nicolaou was found dead under the Alassa bridge in 2005.

In 2005, Panikos Stavrianos, then the government forensic pathologist, had ruled that the death was due to a fall from height.