Filenews 17 October 2025
The authorities are on alert after the gangster murder of businessman Stavros Demosthenous.
The Police Spokesperson, Kyriaki Lambrianidou, made statements regarding today's murder case.
As she stated, Stavros Demosthenous received a number of shots, while he was inside his vehicle in the passenger seat. The victim was riding in a vehicle driven by his 18-year-old son.
Ms. Lambrianidou in her statement said:
The Cyprus Police are investigating a case of premeditated murder of Stavros Demosthenous, aged 49 from Limassol. Specifically today, based on the information and evidence we have before us so far, around 09:30 Stavros Demosthenous received a number of shots, while he was inside his vehicle in the passenger seat. The victim was riding in a vehicle driven by his 18-year-old son. The shooting incident took place at a distance of about 500 meters from his house in the Sfallaggiotissa area and while the vehicle was on the move. From the first information, it seems that the victim received a number of shots from a vehicle in front. The vehicle of the perpetrators, from the information we have so far, is a white van-type vehicle, which left the scene after the shooting. The victim's son continued to drive to the hospital, but along the way he collided with another vehicle and stopped on the highway in the Tsirio area, in the direction of Paphos. The Police were informed about the incident and members of the Limassol Police Department immediately went to the scene of the road collision and then to the scene where the victim was shot. At the same time, the Police were informed about a vehicle that was on fire in the area of Germasogeia.
From the examinations carried out, the burning vehicle was similar to the one used by the perpetrators. From the examinations so far, the vehicle in question was reported stolen on September 4 in the Nicosia District. Tomorrow, an autopsy is scheduled to be performed on the victim's body by the Medical Examiner Dr. Nikolas Charalambous. The investigative work is in full swing and at this stage we cannot expand on any details concerning the progress of the investigations, since our primary goal is to secure testimony that will lead us to the perpetrators of this crime. In case any citizen has any information that can help solve the case, they can contact the Police or call the Citizen's Line for this purpose. It is understandable that we are at the initial stage of investigating this very serious criminal act and we call on you to show understanding for the statements we are making. Rest assured that as soon as we have safe conclusions we will inform you about it.
By chance, the police helicopter was patrolling
She then answered the journalists' questions.
As she stated, at that particular moment the police helicopter was randomly patrolling, which was going for work for other purposes. "We have information that is being evaluated. As I have told you, we are in the initial stage."
Asked about how the perpetrators left the scene, she said that there is information that is being evaluated. "We cannot make any statement regarding the details of this crime at this time. Too many parameters are evaluated. We receive information. We will have to show a little more patience in order to be able to have safe conclusions."
''We had other criminal acts during the morning hours''
She also stated that it is a fact that we had other criminal actions during the morning hours and during peak hours. "This, of course, worries the Cyprus Police. Rest assured that we all monitor many things and prevent several criminal acts."
She noted that all motives are being investigated in this case. "This is a very serious criminal act, which seems to have been well organized. There is a lot of investigative work. There is not a single crime scene, there are at least three scenes that are being investigated. So we all understand the development and course of the investigations and where we will end up next."
Asked if the victim had received threats in the past, she replied that she could not comment on such details.
She also stated that there is information about how many people were in the van, however the Police cannot confirm it.
In addition, she added that "the testimony of the witness and other witnesses has not yet been made. That is why we call on you to show patience. We understand everyone's concern and interest, since it is a public figure and a criminal act that we are witnessing. We are trying to locate other witnesses. So far, no people have been questioned."
She clarified that the victim's son had not been injured.
