A 58-year-old man has been ordered to remain in custody, charged with the premeditated murder of a 26-year-old man in Paphos last month. The suspect stands accused of fatally stabbing Alexandros Antoniou, his daughter's former boyfriend, following a protracted period of escalating tensions between the two men. The Paphos District Court, deeming the defendant a significant flight risk, sanctioned his detention until the commencement of his trial, scheduled for early 2026.
The violent altercation unfolded on the evening of November 19 outside a kiosk in the Konia area, a location near where the suspect's daughter resides. According to evidence presented by the prosecution, the accused allegedly approached the victim's stationary vehicle, his hand concealed in his pocket, before opening the driver's door and launching a knife attack. The fatal blow severed the carotid artery, a major blood vessel in the neck, with a subsequent forensic pathologist's report confirming that exsanguination from this precise injury was the cause of death.
Prosecutor Soteroula Papalazarou outlined a compelling evidential case to the court. This included CCTV footage capturing the incident and crucial genetic analysis indicating that DNA matching the suspect was recovered from the back of the driver's seat. Further damning testimony was provided by a witness who was on the telephone with Antoniou during the attack. The witness recounted hearing the assailant issue stark warnings, including the threat, "if you mess with E… again I will kill you," followed by the demand, "did you hear what I said? Leave her alone."
The court heard that the fatal confrontation was the culmination of a strained history. The suspect's daughter had reportedly informed her father of a threatening message she received from the victim. Furthermore, the pair had previously lodged an official complaint alleging that Antoniou had vandalised her car tyres, illustrating a pattern of acrimony that preceded the lethal encounter.
In delivering the remand decision, the presiding magistrate emphasised the gravity of the premeditated murder charge and the consequent risk of the defendant absconding. The court also issued instructions for the police to ensure the suspect receives any required medical attention during his detention. While the defence counsel did not formally oppose the remand order, he sought to contextualise the act, contending that the initial strike was not aimed at a vital area, an argument that did not sway the court's assessment of the alleged intent.
The case has now been set down for trial at the Paphos Criminal Court on January 29, 2026, leaving a lengthy period of pretrial incarceration for the accused. The proceedings will ultimately determine whether the act is adjudged as premeditated homicide or whether mitigating circumstances surrounding the defendant's motives are accepted. For now, the community is left to grapple with the tragic outcome of a personal dispute that escalated into a lethal act of violence, claiming one life and irrevocably altering another.