A 21 year old man was remanded in custody for eight days by Larnaca district court on Wednesday in connection with the premeditated murder of Yiorgos Mavrommatis, 76, at his home early on Sunday morning.
Police are investigating a case of murder, arson, robbery and burglary.
The investigating officer told the court that the suspect had admitted to breaking into the victim’s house at 5.30 am and entering the bedroom. The 76 year old woke up. According to the investigating officer, the 21 year old told police that he had then lost his temper, thrown the elderly man out of his bed and trampled on his chest until he was dead.
He then stole €50, set the house on fire in order to destroy any evidence linking him to the crime and left the house.
Minutes later, he pushed a 96 year old woman to the ground as she was walking home and stole her bag which contained €35.
Based on testimony, he was arrested for the latter offence and during questioning confessed to both the robbery and the murder.
Mavrommatis’Â burned body had been found by fire fighters who responded to the fire at the Larnaca house after being alerted by neighbours.
Tests and a post-mortem showed that he had died before the fire. It also showed blows to the body.
On Tuesday, police obtained CCTV footage showing the suspect approaching the elderly woman and grabbing her bag. They also have footage showing him entering Archbishop Kyprianou street from Terra Ombras street where the house of the 76 year old victim is situated.
The police investigator said the suspect was known to police as he had been recently questioned in connection with a spate of burglaries.
When he was arrested, he reportedly told police “I confess to it all. I killed the old man and set a fire.”
He also reportedly confessed to police that he had broken into the victim’s house on January 13 and taken €100 with the use of force.
Defence counsel did not object to the remand. He told the court that the young man was on medication.
The Cyprus News Agency said that the 21 year old was laughing when he appeared in court and was told by judge Xenophon Xenophontos: “Stop laughing. This is a serious case.”
Read more
https://in-cyprus.com/police-probing-premeditated-murder-after-house-fire/
