Quote:

Britons on trial over road death of Cyprus schoolboy

(08 November 2006)

British holidaymakers have been accused of killing a Cypriot schoolboy and wounding another when they intentionally drove into them.

Christos Papiris, a 17-year-old Greek Cypriot, died after tourists Julian Harrington, 39, and his nephews Luke Atkinson, 22, and Michael Binnington, 21, from Witham, Essex, allegedly drove after the motorcycle the Cypriot boys were riding before ramming it repeatedly.

Marios Demetriou, 18, who was driving the bike, was seriously injured in the incident, sparked by a brawl outside a disco in the resort of Protaras, on 18 August.

The court hearing in Cyprus is expected to last several weeks.

Quote:

Britons on trial in Cyprus for hit-and-run collision

From Michael Theodoulou of The Times, in Larnaca

The parents of a Cypriot schoolboy killed in a hit-and-run collision in Cyprus spoke of their loss today as three British tourists went on trial for wilful manslaughter.

Michael Papiris, the father of Christos, 17, said he hoped the trial would end with Julian Harrington, 39, Luke Atkinson 22, and Michael Binnington, 21, being convicted and "jailed forever".

But his wife, Georgia, told The Times that the sentence would matter little to her if the three Britons are found guilty.

"Whatever the sentence, I will never see my Christos again," Mrs Papiris said, adding: "He was such a wonderful boy, so good at heart, so beautiful, kind and innocent."

She spoke of her pain at being in her house without her son and "to go into his room and see his things, but he is not there".

The couple, both dressed in mourning black and accompanied by their dead son’s twin sister, spoke outside the court in Larnaca as a police van arrived with the three defendants. Each alighted in handcuffs and was casually dressed.

The three, who have been held in custody since the fatal collision on August 18, are accused of using a rented car to deliberately ram a moped carrying Christos Papiris and his friend, Marios Demetriou, aged 18.

Police believe it was a revenge attack after a nightclub brawl in the coastal resort of Protaras near Ayia Napa. Neither Cypriot was at the nightclub. Mr Demetriou, who suffered a fractured pelvis, is expected to be the prosecution’s main witness.

The three defendants each pleaded not guilty on September 28 to a charge of wilful manslaughter, which carries a penalty of up to life imprisonment. They also denied a second charge of intentionally causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Demetriou.

The prosecution opened the trial this morning by requesting an amendment to the charges to include another article from the criminal code that could potentially reduce the burden of proof needed for a conviction.

The defence objected, arguing this would confuse the charge. The panel of three trial judges then agreed to a request from the prosecution for an adjournment until tomorrow to answer the defence’s objection.

The defendants listened intently as a court interpreter translated the proceedings from Greek but said nothing during the half-hour hearing.

Police frisked everyone entering the courtroom, including the Papiris family. At an earlier hearing, furious friends and relatives of the dead teenager attacked Mr Harrington, the alleged driver of the hit-and-run car, when he arrived at court.

The trial continues tomorrow.