Filenews 27 August 2023 - by Fanis Makridis
The trial of the serious accident in the sea area of Konnos in Protaras that occurred six years ago and resulted in the serious injury of a 31-year-old expatriate from Britain is in its final stage.
Last Tuesday, the last witness for the defence testified under oath before the Famagusta District Court. At the next hearing, set for September 29, the 54-year-old defendant's lawyer will make his closing argument.
The accident had occurred on 13/8/2017 and resulted in the critical injury of the then 25-year-old Anglo-Cypriot, R. H. The young woman at the time of the serious accident was in an inflatable ("sea sofa"), which was being towed by a boat of a well-known water sports company. With her on the inflatable boat was her 17-year-old cousin and friend from the Netherlands, also of Cypriot origin.
At some point the speedboat owned and driven by the 54-year-old defendant was found in the path of the other boat. The latter, in order to avoid the collision, changed course, however, the propellers hit the then 25-year-old causing very serious injuries to the lower part of her torso (25cm tear and finger amputation), for which she required a long hospitalization.
The 31-year-old woman, due to the 25cm tear (from the back to the groin), had lost four liters of blood in the sea, resulting in immediate danger to her life. She has reportedly undergone multiple surgeries, without her health having been restored.
The 54-year-old G.T. from free Famagusta is charged with grievous bodily harm, on the basis of Article 231 of the Penal Code, an offence that in case of guilt carries a prison sentence of up to seven years. In addition to the 31-year-old's serious injury, her then 17-year-old cousin also suffered injuries. The accused is also facing an offence relating to the "obligations of a high-speed craft operator" as recorded in sections 2, 5(3), 19 and 24 of the High Speed Craft Law of 1992.
In the details of the offence, it is explained that while he was the operator of the speedboat involved in an accident that injured R.H. from Scotland, he failed to give her all possible assistance and report the incident to the Police within 24 hours." The other charges he faces relate to failure to maintain safety speed and generally negligent handling of the speedboat.
The 54-year-old did not plead guilty to the charges, and as shown by the hearing that followed, and in particular the line of defense of his lawyer, he puts forward completely different positions on the causes of the accident. He said he alerted a police officer about the accident by phone.
So far in the trial, the victim of the accident, namely 31-year-old R.H., her now 23-year-old cousin, their friend from the Netherlands, the owner of the water sports company, as well as relatives who were in the sea area of Konnos when the accident occurred, have testified as prosecution witnesses. On the defense side, an expert from Greece, a police officer and a friend of the defendant who was in Konnos were summoned and testified.
Amendment of an indictment
It should be noted that after the start of the trial (7/2/2023 the hearing began) and at the request of the prosecution and an interim decision of the Famagusta District Court on March 9, an amendment was made to the indictment, which included the offence of causing grievous bodily harm. Because it carries a sentence of up to seven years, consent was given by the Attorney General for the proceedings to be summarily tried by the Famagusta District Court. One natural person and one legal person were removed from the original indictment. He is the owner of the water sports company involved in the accident and the business entity. The owner of the company in question turned into a prosecution witness.
The prosecution is represented by Thanasis Papanikolaou. The defense lawyer of the 54-year-old defendant is lawyer Marios Panayides.
