Appeals court upholds 16-year sentences for Larnaca shooting

On July 9, the Appeals Court of Cyprus rejected an appeal filed by an individual convicted of a shooting incident that occurred in Larnaca in December 2022. The defendant had previously pleaded guilty to seven charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of attempted murder, and illegal possession of a Class A firearm and ammunition. The Larnaca Criminal Court had sentenced him to seven years for conspiracy, sixteen years for each count of attempted murder, and six years for the weapon-related offenses. The victims of the shooting included an adult male and a six-year-old child. The appellant argued that the sixteen-year sentences were excessively harsh and lacked sufficient justification, specifically questioning why identical penalties were applied to both attempted murder charges. The Appeals Court dismissed these arguments, affirming that the original court had properly assessed the severity of the crimes and the mitigating factors. The court stated that the defendant's culpability and the gravity of the offense remained equal regardless of the age of the victims.