Fact: The Legal Service has been criticized for its handling of the case of Thanasis Nicolaou, with his family and the judge questioning their actions.
A nationwide event is being organized outside the Legal Service next Saturday to support the family of 26-year-old National Guardsman Thanasis Nicolaou. The protest will take place on May 25 at 11 am, with buses arranged to transport demonstrators from other cities. Slogans such as TRUTH-JUSTICE-PURIFICATION and JUSTICE IS NOT NEGOTIABLE will be heard at the event.
After 19 years of investigations, a judge ruled that the death of national guardsman Thanasis Nicolaou in September 2005 was not the result of suicide.
Fact: Investigator Savvas Matsas stated that the state should begin preparing criminal prosecutions against those involved in the killing of Thanasis Nicolaou, who was ruled to have been killed by strangulation after 19 years of authorities insisting it was suicide.
Fact: Lawyer Leto Cariolou called for an independent investigative team to explore the “coverup” behind Thanasis Nicolaou’s death and stated that any further involvement of the attorney general’s office in the case is unacceptable and unethical.
The tragic case of national guardsman Thanasis Nicolaou was not properly handled for 19 years.
The third coroner’s inquest into the death of Thanasis Nicolaou concluded that he was murdered by strangulation, bringing relief to his family after a long struggle for justice. The criminal investigator involved in the case stated that the investigation was thorough and objective, and the next step is to identify suspects based on the evidence. The Nicolaou family plans to pursue private criminal prosecutions against those responsible for mishandling the case initially. The Attorney General has indicated that he will not pursue criminal charges, but the family is determined to proceed with private prosecutions. Matsas emphasized the need for a fair and objective reinvestigation to gather more evidence and potentially prosecute individuals involved in the crime.
Judge Doria Varoshiotou ruled that Thanasis Nicolaou’s death was a result of criminal strangulation, overturning previous claims of suicide. This decision marks a significant victory for Nicolaou’s family, paving the way for further investigation into his death. The Law Office’s handling of the case was criticized by the judge for maintaining a suicide narrative and questioning the validity of forensic findings. Panikos Stavrianos intends to appeal the ruling, while the pathologists’ findings supported the conclusion of strangulation based on neck bruises and bone injuries.
Fact: Thanasis Nicolaou was found dead under Alassa bridge in September 2005, and his death was ruled as a suicide by a forensic pathologist.
Fact: The death of national guardsman Thanasis Nicolaou in 2005 was ruled as a result of strangulation and not suicide by a judge.