A murder investigation into the death of a 35-year-old Egyptian inmate has failed to produce evidence supporting homicide charges, prompting authorities to return the suspect to prison while awaiting forensic results.
The 30-year-old from Paphos, who had been held in police custody, returned to Central Prisons today after his eight-day detention order expired. Police investigations combined with an autopsy on the victim’s body have not supported murder charges.
Police recommended that the Law Office proceed with charges for acts that could cause death, but received different instructions. Without evidence supporting a homicide charge, authorities released the suspect to return to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence whilst awaiting results from histopathological analyses.
Results are expected from Greece in approximately two weeks, delayed from an initial expectation they might be ready today. The case file remains open, with the outcome now dependent on the histopathological examination results.
According to philenews sources, the murder charge remains unproven, and the cause of the 35-year-old’s death has yet to be determined. If no substances are detected in his system, pointing to other causes, a file may be opened regarding assault and bodily harm against the Egyptian.
The 30-year-old admitted to giving the victim one punch below the eye and explained the reason for their argument. He maintained he had no intention or motive to kill.
According to philenews’s initial reporting, the Egyptian moved normally after receiving the punch and, for several minute,s attempted to escape guards to find the 30-year-old and return the blow.
At some point, he collapsed, and revival attempts were unsuccessful. The autopsy showed neither internal bleeding nor cardiac arrest attributable to the blow.
Separately, investigations continue at Nicosia Central Prisons into the death of a 23-year-old Syrian in his cell, attributed to suicide. Investigators continue taking statements about the young man’s environment, with a death inquest to be conducted at a later stage.