Family of Thanasis Nicolaou requests police protection during private criminal trial

The family of Thanasis Nicolaou has formally requested police protection from Chief of Police Themistos Arnaoutis ahead of upcoming private criminal trial proceedings. The family expressed concerns for their physical safety, citing persistent targeting, mockery, and threatening behavior on social media directed at them by the defendants and their associates. They are specifically requesting security while attending court sessions and during transit to and from their home.

The trial, which is set to continue this Tuesday with testimony from the victim's mother, Andriana Nicolaou, concerns the 2005 death of 26-year-old national guardsman Thanasis Nicolaou, who was found dead under the Alassa bridge in Limassol. Initially ruled a suicide, later investigations concluded the guardsman was strangled, prompting this legal action against officials involved in the original inquiry.

The defendants currently facing prosecution include forensic pathologist Panicos Stavrianos, former Limassol police director Andreas Iatropoulos, former CID head Nikos Sofokleous, and former police officials Christakis Nathanael and Christakis Kapiliotis. Authorities are currently assessing the family's request following these allegations of intimidation.