Father and stepmother held over deaths of boys found locked in Xylophagou car

Local British BasesbulgariadeathFamagustapoliceTop News Father and stepmother held over deaths of boys found locked in Xylophagou car Image 4 7 Relevant News Owner of Xylofagou building where boys died says ‘I didn’t want children in premises’ 29 June 2026 Two Limassol food delivery riders robbed by masked attackers on motorcycles 29 June 2026 Father and stepmother held over deaths of boys found locked in Xylophagou car 29 June 2026 Natasa Christoforou 29 June 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber The Dhekelia SBA court has ordered a three-day remand for a 30-year-old father and his 38-year-old partner after two Bulgarian brothers, aged eight and 10, were found dead in a locked car in Xylophagou on Sunday. The pair appeared before Dhekelia Court in handcuffs on Monday morning, in a state of shock. The court granted the remand on grounds of flight risk, but rejected the SBA Police’s request for a four-day detention order and dismissed a second ground citing the risk of witness interference. The father’s lawyer, Andriana Klaeidi, objected to his remand; the stepmother’s lawyer, Christos Mouskos, did not contest hers. The case is being investigated as causing death by negligent act, according to investigating officer Sub-Inspector Christodoulos Christodoulou of the SBA CID. Post-mortems on the two boys are to be carried out today. How the children were found According to philenews information, the stepmother discovered the children when she returned from work at around 5:30pm on Sunday. She immediately alerted police, who notified the father’s employer. Because the car keys were with the father, windows had to be smashed to free the boys. Ambulance crews attended but were unable to save them. What emerged at the hearing Investigators told the court they have CCTV footage showing the children playing in the area. The investigating officer noted the footage is motion-activated and contains gaps, and said assistance from the Republic of Cyprus will be sought. Vehicle examiners will inspect the car to determine whether a fault in the door-locking mechanism may have prevented the boys from getting out. Investigators will also liaise with the vehicle’s manufacturer’s representative. Two mobile phones are also under examination. Around 25 witness statements are to be taken. All witnesses are in Cyprus except the boys’ mother, who is in Bulgaria — Bulgarian authorities will be asked to assist with her statement. The investigating officer confirmed no other person needs to be held in custody in connection with the case. The court heard that the car was parked on land falling within the Sovereign Base Areas, while the apartment block where the family lived is within the territory of the Republic of Cyprus. Proceedings were conducted in English with simultaneous translation into Bulgarian and Greek. Background The two boys arrived in Cyprus in mid-May to spend the holidays with their father, who lives and works in the country. The father, a blacksmith, had travelled to Bulgaria to bring the children back with him. According to witness accounts, he left for work in Limassol in the early hours of Sunday, with his partner leaving for work shortly afterwards, leaving the boys alone in the apartment. How the children came to be in the car remains under investigation, as does whether a mechanical fault in the vehicle may have caused them to become locked inside. SBA Police are continuing to gather witness statements from residents and examining CCTV material. Read more: Boys’ deaths in Xylophagou car make headlines across Bulgaria and Britain Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Owner of Xylofagou building where boys died says ‘I didn’t want children in premises’ Two Limassol food delivery riders robbed by masked attackers on motorcycles Things to do on Monday, June 29 Care allowances frozen for seven years as cost-of-living crisis hits disabled Cypriots hard Cyprus welcomes rescheduled Holguín Brussels visit as ‘important and very useful’ US Embassy marks Independence anniversary in Brussels Prime Steakhouse: First restaurant in Cyprus to earn Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.