George Christodoulou, known as 'Zavrantonas,' is expected to appear before the Criminal Court today following the Appeal Court’s decision to annul the original verdict and order a retrial.
Attention is focused on whether an application will be submitted for his release under conditions pending the new trial, as well as whether the key prosecution witness will be located and testify.
The first hearing for the retrial is scheduled for today, following the Appeal Court’s ruling on 11 May, which overturned the initial conviction and the 22‑year prison sentence. The case will now be reheard by a different panel of the Criminal Court, with no judges from the original composition participating.
Christodoulou was originally convicted on 12 December 2022 by the Permanent Criminal Court of Nicosia on charges of possession and possession with intent to supply a Class A controlled drug, namely 15 kilogrammes and 16.4 grammes of cocaine.
The offences were committed on 16 January 2019. His defence lawyer, Christos Poutziouris, filed an appeal based on 21 grounds, including arguments relating to the fairness of the trial and the severity of the sentence.
One of the key grounds of appeal was that the Criminal Court which heard the case was not the lawful court of the appellant, resulting in a violation of his right to a fair trial. This was linked to the fact that a different panel had initially handled the case and issued an intermediate ruling on 23 December 2020, shaping the course of the proceedings.
The Appeal Court examined this argument and concluded that the issue justified setting aside the initial verdict.
Two key issues
Two major issues are expected to dominate the retrial process.
The first concerns whether the accused may seek release under conditions until the case is concluded. Legal sources consider it likely that such a request will be raised before the court.
It is noted that Christodoulou is also facing trial in a separate case involving six other individuals, linked to alleged organised criminal activity.
The second issue relates to the presence of the main prosecution witness. Following his own conviction, the witness was released from prison.
According to defence lawyer Christos Poutziouris, the witness received a presidential pardon shortly after his conviction and was released on the condition that he leave Cyprus.
Whether the witness will be located and testify, as well as the full scope of the evidence to be presented, will become clearer as the hearings begin.
Nearly six years in custody
Mr Poutziouris stated that his client remains in custody until his latest court appearance, adding that he has already served nearly six years in prison.
He also drew comparisons with other defendants in the same case who admitted guilt, noting that one of them had been sentenced to 16 years but was released after four years.
It is recalled that the Appeal Court, in ordering the retrial, ruled that Christodoulou should remain in custody until the first hearing before the Criminal Court.
