MVP

Tag: national guardsman

  • Head injuries — Severe Head Injuries Claim Life of National Guardsman Christos Christaki

    Head injuries — Severe Head Injuries Claim Life of National Guardsman Christos Christaki

    head injuries — Severe head injuries have been confirmed as the cause of death for 19-year-old National Guardsman Christos Christaki, who succumbed on Saturday evening following a tragic fall from a car on 18th August.

    • The community mourns the loss of a young life filled with promise, as friends and family grapple with the profound impact of this tragic event.

    The autopsy, conducted at Nicosia Hospital mortuary, revealed that the young man’s injuries were the result of a fall that occurred late on Monday night in a car park behind the entertainment venues at Mackenzie. Friends had gathered in the area after dining at a nearby restaurant.

    Witnesses reported that Christos was lying on the front bonnet of a friend’s moving vehicle when he fell, leading to severe trauma. Following his injuries, he was initially taken to Larnaca General Hospital before being transferred to Nicosia General Hospital due to the critical nature of his condition.

    Tragically, after being admitted to intensive care, Christos passed away shortly after 6pm on Saturday at the American Medical Center. The post-mortem was conducted by Dr Angeliki Papetta, head of forensic medicine, alongside forensic pathologist Dr Orthodoxos Orthodoxou, who confirmed the nature of his injuries.

    The incident led to immediate police action, resulting in the arrest of a 19-year-old friend of Christos for causing grievous bodily harm and negligent and reckless acts. Although initially treated as a traffic accident, further investigation prompted authorities to take this step. The friend has since been released without charge while investigations by the Larnaca Criminal Investigation Department continue, with the case file set to be forwarded to the Law Office for potential prosecution.

    In a show of solidarity, the Aradippou Municipality announced the cancellation of a scheduled festival at St Fanourios Church courtyard, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of Christos. His funeral is set for Tuesday afternoon at 4:30pm at the Church of Apostle Luke, where the family has requested attendees wear white clothing instead of offering condolences or wreaths, encouraging donations to support the family instead.

    The community mourns the loss of a young life filled with promise, as friends and family grapple with the profound impact of this tragic event.

  • Larnaca — Teen in Critical Condition Following Fall from Moving Car in Larnaca

    Larnaca — Teen in Critical Condition Following Fall from Moving Car in Larnaca

    A 19-year-old driver has been remanded in custody after a tragic incident in Larnaca left his friend, a fellow 19-year-old national guardsman, in critical condition. The incident occurred late on Monday night, around 11:30pm, in a car park behind the Mackenzie entertainment venues.

    • Police have confirmed that alcohol and drug tests conducted on the driver returned negative results, and the investigation continues as they await further witness statements and technical evidence.

    The driver faces charges of causing grievous bodily harm and reckless endangerment after the victim reportedly fell from the moving vehicle, sustaining severe head injuries. Initial accounts offered by both the driver and a passenger have raised questions due to significant discrepancies in their testimonies, leading to a deepening investigation.

    Larnaca: Conflicting Accounts of the Incident

    During the court proceedings, the investigating officer revealed that the statements from the driver and passenger were markedly different from what was later disclosed. The judge approved police requests for the driver’s detention, emphasising the nature of the incident, which involved the victim allegedly lying on the vehicle when he fell.

    On Tuesday, police described the event as an accident, claiming that the victim was struck while trying to board the car. However, the driver’s voluntary admission, which altered the narrative significantly, prompted the case to be transferred to the Larnaca traffic unit.

    Legal Proceedings and Testimonies

    Defence lawyer Paris Loizou did not contest the remand of the driver but took the opportunity to question the investigating officer regarding the circumstances surrounding the driver’s admission of the vehicle being in motion at low speed, with no apparent motive for the fall. The officer noted that there are still approximately ten additional statements pending, including those from potential eyewitnesses.

    Victim’s Condition Remains Critical

    The injured guardsman was first taken to Larnaca General Hospital by friends before being intubated and transferred urgently to the intensive care unit at Nicosia General Hospital. His condition is reported as extremely critical, with life-threatening head injuries.

    Ongoing Investigation and Evidence Gathering

    Authorities have conducted a reconstruction of the incident and are actively seeking CCTV footage to clarify the circumstances surrounding the fall. Initial court proceedings revealed that police requests for the driver’s arrest were initially rejected based on preliminary statements, but this changed dramatically following the driver’s voluntary testimony.

    Police have confirmed that alcohol and drug tests conducted on the driver returned negative results, and the investigation continues as they await further witness statements and technical evidence.