The parents of a British man stabbed to death in Ayia Napa in 2016 have described the lack of arrests in the case as “disgusting”, a decade after the killing and despite international warrants being issued for two suspects, reported the BBC yesterday.
George Low, a 22-year-old estate agent from Dartford, was fatally stabbed during an attack in the resort town of Ayia Napa. His friend, Ben Barker, was also stabbed multiple times but survived.
Cyprus police issued international arrest warrants for Sali Ahmet and Mehmet Akpinar, who fled to the north after the attack. Police have confirmed there has been no progress in the case.
“You can't begin to imagine how much hurt and upset we feel every single day,” George’s mother, Helen Low, told the BBC.
Speaking ahead of the 10th anniversary of her son's death, she added: “It's mentally and physically draining. Our every thought is how are we going to do this, what the next steps might be.”
Turkish authorities previously refused to hand over the two suspects to the Republic of Cyprus. An inquest into Low’s death heard the men were later believed to have travelled to Turkey, which does not extradite its citizens.
No case in Turkey
The Turkish Embassy in London said last year that an investigation into Akpinar was ongoing. In a new statement, however, it said prosecutors had decided not to proceed with the case.
According to the embassy, information received from Turkey’s Justice Ministry showed that “the investigation was referred to the Hatay Public Prosecutor's Office which has subsequently issued a decision of non-prosecution (no grounds to proceed) in respect of Mr Mehmet Akpınar.”
The embassy also said Turkish authorities had previously sought legal assistance from the United Kingdom in connection with the investigation but had received no response.
The BBC reported that it had received no information from Turkish authorities regarding any investigation into Ahmet or his current whereabouts. It also remained unclear why Akpinar was no longer under investigation.
Lawyers assisting the Low family have previously said Cypriot police collected evidence including DNA, possible CCTV footage, weapons and witness statements.
However, Cyprus police have said that under EU procedures evidence can only be shared through recognised legal channels and that Turkish authorities do not recognise the Republic of Cyprus.
‘Release the evidence’
Dartford MP Jim Dickson said the case had remained unresolved for “far too long” and that he was in contact with British officials in Cyprus to press for the release of evidence held by Cypriot authorities.
“We then have the opportunity for the killers who we know are out there to be tried in the right court either a Turkish court or a Cypriot court,” he said.
International relations analyst James Ker-Lindsay said Turkey’s non-recognition of the Republic of Cyprus remained a key obstacle.
“It would be the case that Turkey is saying we will not honour an extradition request that comes from a country that we don't formally recognise,” he said.
“All other 191 members of the United Nations recognise Cyprus as an independent state but Turkey has its position on this.”
Dickson said he hoped to raise the case in the UK House of Commons.
“I hope that in the end Cyprus and Turkey will see that this unresolved issue is a stain on both their criminal justice systems and their countries' reputations,” he said.
Helen Low said she and her husband would continue campaigning for justice.
“Some people think 'well 10 years down the line just move on, forget it, it's not going to happen what are you wasting your time for?' But that's our son you know?” she said.
“With every breath in our bodies we will make sure we do this for George.”
