Denying all charges brought against him, the 44-year-old defendant in the fatal quadruple collision that occurred 30 minutes after the New Year’s arrival at a traffic-light-controlled intersection on the Limassol-Platres road responded during today’s proceedings.
Victims of the tragedy that shook the entire island were the eldest daughter of the family, Evanthia, aged 27, and the youngest son, Nicolas, aged 17.
Along with them were their grandparents, Nikolaos Zavros and Vathoulla, aged 72 and 74 respectively. Relatives of the four victims of attended the proceedings in the Criminal Courtroom, witnessing the process once again.
The son of the elderly couple appeared in court wearing a black t-shirt with pictures of the victims.
The defendant’s lawyer, Lambros Pieris, stated that he is in discussions and consultations with the Legal Service regarding the charges his client faces, in order to modify the charges of manslaughter. He also noted that the entire evidence has been handed over to him.
The 44-year-old defendant faced 10 charges, to which he pleaded not guilty.
The four charges concern the crime of manslaughter, which carries a life imprisonment sentence.
The other four relate to the offense of causing death by reckless, careless, or dangerous act or behaviour in violation of Article 210 of the Penal Code, while the remaining two charges involve driving at a speed endangering human life and failure to comply with a traffic signal, which was red.
The Criminal Court set a new trial date for 26th June 2024.
Until then, the defendant will remain in custody at the Central Prisons as a remand prisoner.
As revealed in a previous publication by Philenews, the defendant was driving his vehicle at a speed calculated at 108 km per hour, double the limit on the particular road where the multiple fatal collision occurred.
The speed of the involved vehicle was scientifically calculated, with a crucial factor being the recording of the vehicle by a security camera.
The time from when the vehicle is seen until the collision is measured, and analysed to determine the speed, while other factors are also taken into account (lighting, brake marks if any, etc.).
