Thanasi Nikolaou family seeks police protection due to threats
The family of Thanasi Nikolaou sent a letter to the Police Chief reporting threats on social media. The trial continues on 10 November.
Letter to Police Chief amid ongoing trial
The family of Thanasi Nikolaou has sent a letter to Police Chief Themistos Arnaoutis requesting police protection both inside the courtroom and during their movements to and from their home. As reported by Dialogos, the request was submitted a few days before the continuation of court proceedings, which has been scheduled for Tuesday 10 November.
In the letter, the family alleges that they are subjected to daily targeting, ridicule and threatening references on social media. According to these allegations, the posts originate both from individuals accused in the case and from people associated with them. No results of a police investigation into these specific allegations have been made public.
On 10 November, Andriana Nikolaou, Thanasi's mother, is expected to testify. She has been pursuing the court proceedings for years in order to investigate the circumstances of her son's death.
The accused and the indictment
Five individuals in total are accused in the private criminal prosecution: forensic pathologist Panicos Stavrianus, former Limassol Police Director Andreas Iatropoulos, former head of TAE Limassol Nicos Sofocleous, former head of Field Operations Christakis Nathanael and former head of the Platres police station complex Christakis Kapiliottis.
The charges contained in the indictment concern conspiracy to obstruct the course of justice, dereliction of official duty, perjury, issuance of false certificates by a public official, provision of false information, destruction of evidence and interference with judicial proceedings. During the previous court hearing, all five accused pleaded not guilty.
The death of Thanasi Nikolaou
Thanasi Nikolaou was found dead on 29 September 2005 beneath the Alyssa Bridge in Limassol. His death was initially attributed to suicide.
On 10 May 2024, the third death inquest reached a different conclusion: the death of the 26-year-old National Guard member resulted from criminal conduct and specifically from strangulation. Based on this finding, the family proceeded to file private criminal prosecution to investigate possible criminal liability in relation to the handling of the case.
Now, alongside the court proceedings, there is also the question of family protection, with the related request currently before police leadership.
Source: Dialogos