Investigators turn to prison for answers over Thanasis Nicolaou murder
Cabinet on Friday granted a three-month extension to the investigators seeking to uncover the truth behind the murder of national guardsman Thanasis Nicolaou.
Sources close to the matter said investigators lawyer Thanasis Athanasiou and retired Greek police lieutenant Lambros Pappas were looking for answers in prison.
This is because of a confession made months ago by an individual behind bars, who admitted to being one of the murderers that killed Nicolaou.
Police has remained tight-lipped over the matter.
National guardsman Nicolaou was found dead under Alassa bridge on September 29, 2005.
At the time, pathologist Panicos Stavrianos attributed his death to suicide, a ruling that authorities accepted. However, for 19 years, Nicolaou’s family has insisted that he was murdered for speaking out against drug dealing at his army camp.
Former investigator into the case Savvas Matsas has called the case an ongoing conspiracy and a major coverup that seeks to bury the truth by insisting Nicolaou died due to suicide.
After almost two decades the third inquiry into his death ruled Nicolaou was murdered by strangulation as a result of criminal activity.
Following the ruling, President Nikos Christodoulides appointed the two investigators saying the truth must finally shine over what happened to Nicolaou.
“For 19 years, it seems that there were things that were not properly investigated.”
They have tasked with uncovering crimes linked to the circumstances behind Nicolaou’s death, as well as omissions surrounding the investigation into his death.
Already, Athanasiou and Pappas have gone to the scene where Nicolaou was found dead. They have followed the route between Nicolaou’s home and army camp – which can be seen from his family home. The same was done between the army camp and Alassa bridge, with investigators timing the distance.
Stavrianos has since filed for certiorari at the Supreme Court, seeking to annul the decision.
The investigation into Nicolaou’s death will plough ahead regardless, the Cyprus Mail has learned.