Presidential Pardon on the Horizon for 82-Year-Old Cable Thief Shooter
In a turn of events that has gripped the nation, an 82-year-old man convicted of shooting a cable thief may soon be granted a presidential pardon. Reports indicate that President Nikos Christodoulides has been advocating for the man’s release, urging the legal service to expedite the process. The president’s call for clemency came swiftly after the sentencing, reflecting a humanitarian stance on the matter.
Despite the president’s instructions, the complexities of the Cypriot constitution require a collaborative decision-making process. The constitution mandates unanimous recommendations from the attorney-general and deputy attorney-general for such a pardon to be executed. This legal framework initially led to a standoff between the president and the Legal Service, with Deputy Government Spokesman Yiannis Antoniou expressing the president’s discontent with the Legal Service’s rigid legalistic perspective.
However, recent developments suggest a shift in the Legal Service’s stance. During the latest court appeal by the octogenarian, the deputy attorney-general indicated that they would not oppose suspending the man’s sentence. Maria Neophytou, the man’s lawyer, conveyed optimism while speaking to Alpha television, as she awaits the attorney-general’s definitive position on the presidential pardon.
The incident that led to the man’s conviction occurred last June in Alassa, Limassol. Amidst a power outage, he armed himself with a hunting rifle for protection while inspecting his property’s main supply panel. Confronting a thief attempting to steal electric wire, he fired a shot that resulted in serious injury, although the thief ultimately recovered fully. The man was subsequently sentenced to two and a half years in prison for intent to cause serious bodily harm and firearm offenses.
As Cyprus awaits the final decision, this case has sparked a national conversation about property rights, self-defense, and the complexities of legal mercy. The potential presidential pardon is not just about one man’s fate but also about the broader implications of justice and compassion in the rule of law.
