Cyprus court hands two consecutive life sentences to man who murdered Slovak citizen in double killing
A Cypriot court sentenced a 25-year-old man to two consecutive life terms for the premeditated murder of two men, including 38-year-old Slovak national David Chmelar. The victims were shot with a hunting shotgun and their bodies burned inside a vehicle.
Cyprus court hands two consecutive life sentences to man who murdered Slovak citizen in double killing
A criminal court in Limassol, Cyprus, sentenced a 25-year-old man to two back-to-back life sentences on 9 June for the brutal double murder of 38-year-old Slovak national David Chmelar and his acquaintance Andreas Kouzoupis. The verdict was reported by the Cypriot outlet en.philenews.com via Slovak news portal Topky.
Bodies found burned in car
On 30 July 2024, authorities discovered the charred remains of both men inside a vehicle on a rural road near the village of Listrovounos in the Limassol district. Investigators determined that before the car was set on fire, the victims had been shot with a hunting shotgun.
Premeditated ambush
The fatal encounter took place shortly before midnight at a reservoir in the village of Arakapas. Chmelar, who was of Slovak origin, drove to the meeting together with Kouzoupis. The 25-year-old defendant and another man were already waiting at the location.
The prosecution established that the murders had been planned in advance. Both victims suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the head caused by a hunting shotgun. However, prosecutors noted that the convicted 25-year-old was not the individual who actually held the weapon during the killings.
Aftermath and cover-up
Following the attack, the perpetrators transported the vehicle containing the bodies to the Listrovounos area. They pushed the car down a slope along the Parekklisia-Kellaki road, where it crashed into a tree. The assailants later obtained gasoline and set the vehicle ablaze, completely destroying both the car and the victims' remains.
The man was arrested on 1 August 2024 on the basis of a court warrant. After the verdict, he is expected to testify as a prosecution witness in the trial against his accomplice, who continues to deny involvement in the crime.
Unusual sentencing
The court emphasized that the perpetrator's actions deprived two people of their lives and demonstrated complete disregard for the highest value — human life. What makes the ruling particularly notable is that the life sentences will not run concurrently but consecutively. This decision could have significant implications for any future parole hearings.
In justifying the exceptional punishment, the court referenced an earlier case involving a triple murder where the appeals court similarly imposed consecutive life sentences.
Source: Topky.sk
Source: Google News SK