Appeals court confirms conviction for neighbor dispute involving property damage

The Cyprus Appeals Court has unanimously rejected the appeal of a woman convicted of public insult and malicious damage to property. The legal battle, which stemmed from a long-standing neighbor dispute, concluded over eight years after the initial incidents. The court upheld the original conviction, which involved the defendant verbally abusing her neighbor on February 5, 2018, and deliberately blocking rain gutters with wood on May 8, 2018.

The obstruction of the gutters caused significant flooding in the neighbor's apartment during a rainstorm, resulting in damages valued at €2,550. The defendant had argued that the weather, rather than her actions, caused the damage; however, the court dismissed this defense, noting that the intentional blockage directly prevented proper drainage. The conflict originated from tensions between the ground-floor resident and the owners of the upper floor regarding access to and use of the building's rooftop terrace.

Having affirmed the lower court's decision, the Appeals Court found no errors in the evaluation of evidence or the application of the law. The ruling brings a final conclusion to the case regarding the criminal liability of the defendant for the events of 2018.