Trial for the murder of Alexandros Antoniou postponed until 2027

The trial of a 58-year-old man accused of the premeditated murder of 26-year-old Alexandros Antoniou has been postponed by the Paphos Permanent Assize Court. The proceedings, which were scheduled to begin on October 13, 2026, were delayed to allow the Prosecution and the defense to finalize a list of agreed facts. The hearing is now set to commence on January 27, 2027.

The accused remains in custody at the Central Prisons and was transported to the court under strict security measures. While he maintains a plea of not guilty regarding the charge of premeditated murder, he has admitted to the charge of carrying a knife outside his property. The prosecution contends that the defendant used an orange pocket knife to inflict the fatal wound, arguing that the act was premeditated. Conversely, the defense argues that the incident should be classified as manslaughter rather than premeditated murder.

The case has garnered significant public attention, with the courtroom filled by family members and citizens during the recent appearance. The upcoming session in January will focus on the formal presentation of evidence and the arguments surrounding the classification of the crime.