By John Leonidou
A NICOSIA Criminal Court yesterday heard of mother of three’s desperate cry for pity at the hands of a man who stabbed her, punched her, stoned her and then burnt her body in a forest.
The chilling account emerged during the trial of Kyriacos Kakoullis, 37, from Nisou, who yesterday pleaded guilty to two charges of manslaughter and arson.
Single father of two Kakoullis was initially charged with the premeditated murder of Androulla Avraam-Goumenou, also 37, but the charged was later downgraded to manslaughter after he claimed the victim had prompted the attack and that his act was not premeditated.
The facts of the case yesterday unveiled a love triangle between Kakoullis, the victim and the victim’s 18-year-old daughter.
According to the state prosecution, Kakoullis had put an ad in the Chryses Efkeries classified newspaper where Androulla worked, offering his services as a masseur to women and couples.
It was around that time that he met Androulla’s 18-year-old daughter.
The two of them soon began a relationship but she decided to end their affair after six months.
“Kakoullis was not happy with the break and began seeking comfort from the daughter’s mother. It was not long before they became friends and, eventually, lovers,” said state prosecutor Rikkos Mappourides.
“On December 13, 2006, the defendant and the victim met at the Nea Ledra area in Latsia. As they were sitting in her car, the defendant said he wanted to have sex with her but she refused.
“Her refusal made him agitated and angry. At some point during the row, the victim picked up a knife that was on the dashboard, but he managed to wrestle it from her.”
Kakoullis then began stabbing the victim. He then dragged her out of her car and began punching and kicking her.
“As she lay helpless of the floor, she begged him to stop, telling him: ‘If you love my children, pity me, don’t kill me’. But he instead picked up a large rock and pounded her skull three times. She died instantly,” the prosecutor continued.
He then put her body in the back of his pick-up truck and drove to a secluded area close to the church of Mosfiloti village.
He then torched her body before driving back to Latsia, where he set her car alight.
Police suspected foul play when they were called later that day to the abandoned burning car.
Kakoullis was arrested soon afterwards after police picked him at his home.
According to arresting officers, he was washing the blood out of his pick-up truck at the time of his arrest.
Yesterday, a smartly-dressed Kakoullis, sporting long hair tied back into a ponytail and a goatee, appeared unmoved as he was led in handcuffs back to prison.
A recent psychiatric evaluation revealed that he did not suffer from any problems.
The trial continues on June 21 with his defence lawyer set to make his client’s final plea for mitigation.
Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2007
How can the charge be downgraded to manslaughter if the act wasn't premediated?? What on earth was a knife doing on the bashboard of the car???? How could the victim have provoked the attack???
Attacks on women in this country are not seen as a serious offences by the courts. Does anyone ever get charged with murder??....oh, yes...if they are non-cypriots!!!!!
The justice system in Cyprus is a joke!!! [/b]
