The Limassol Permanent Assize Court on Wednesday sentenced a 30-year-old man to 18 months in prison after finding him guilty of stealing a car believed to have been used in planning the murder of Stavros Demosthenous on 17 October 2025.
In its unanimous decision, the court said it had taken into account the defendant’s immediate admission, his subsequent remorse, his personal circumstances and other mitigating factors presented before it.
At the same time, it noted that another case is pending against him before the Limassol District Court and that he has three previous convictions for similar offences.
The Assize Court ruled that imprisonment was the appropriate sentence, “as any other sentence would be inadequate”. The 18-month sentence includes the days the 30-year-old has spent in custody, since 19 October 2025.
The 30-year-old had admitted that, in return for €300, he instructed another person to steal a priest’s vehicle. The theft took place on 5 October 2025. Police found the vehicle on 14 October, three days before Demosthenous’ murder, bearing fake registration plates.
Two containers with flammable material were found inside the vehicle, but none of the priest’s property, which had a total value of €1,750, was located.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, the three defendants in the murder of Stavros Demosthenous also appeared: a 31-year-old man and two 28-year-olds. They face, among other charges, premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit a felony, conspiracy to commit murder, and the illegal possession, transportation and use of a firearm and explosives.
The defence requested time to study new evidentiary material and to reach an agreement with the Prosecution on the facts admitted. The Assize Court set 26 October for the hearing of the case.
The court also set 2, 4, 5, 9, 11, 12, 16, 18, 19 and 30 November, as well as 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16 and 18 December, for the continuation of the proceedings.
Source: CNA
