Supreme Court upholds conviction and prison sentence for fatal road accident

The Supreme Court of Cyprus has dismissed an appeal filed by a driver who was previously convicted by the Nicosia District Court of causing death through reckless and dangerous driving. The court upheld both the conviction and the 12-month prison sentence, which the defendant will now serve.

During the proceedings, the defendant withdrew his challenge regarding the severity of the sentence, focusing instead on eight arguments aimed at overturning the conviction. The case originated from a fatal head-on collision on a two-lane road. According to the facts established by the lower court, the defendant attempted to overtake a truck on an uphill, unlit section of the road during the night. He crossed a solid white line into the oncoming lane and collided with a vehicle that was travelling legally, resulting in the immediate death of the other driver.

The initial trial found that the defendant's decision to overtake in prohibited conditions constituted a criminal act. With the appeal now rejected, the original verdict and the one-year prison term remain fully enforceable. No further legal challenges were announced.