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Father charged over deaths of two boys in Xylofagou car

In-Cyprus · 2026-07-02

AI SUMMARY

• What happened: A 30-year-old Bulgarian father has been charged with two counts of causing death by a reckless and careless act after his two sons, aged 8 and 10, were found dead in a car in Xylofagou. The boys had been left unsupervised and became trapped inside the vehicle for several hours. • Why it matters: The incident raises concerns about child safety and supervision, particularly in situations where children may have access to vehicles. It also highlights potential issues with vehicle safety features, as a fault in the car's door was identified. • What to watch next: Investigators are awaiting forensic test results to confirm the cause of death, while the father’s court proceedings will continue. The case may prompt discussions on child safety regulations and vehicle design standards in Cyprus.

Local British BasesdeathFamagustapoliceTop News Father charged over deaths of two boys in Xylofagou car Thanatos Dio Paidion Ksilofagou 1 1536x864 Relevant News Father charged over deaths of two boys in Xylofagou car 2 July 2026 The great student swap: Why Cyprus is increasingly drawing foreign students for university 2 July 2026 Couple arrested after climbing Empire State building to get engaged — “We are just artists” 2 July 2026 Natasa Christoforou 2 July 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber The 30-year-old Bulgarian father of two boys, aged 8 and 10, found dead in his partner’s car on Sunday afternoon, appeared before Dhekelia Court shortly after 12:30pm on Thursday, charged with two counts of causing death by a reckless and careless act. The boys had been left unsupervised after their father left for work in Limassol on Sunday morning, followed shortly after by his 38-year-old partner. She was initially arrested but released unconditionally yesterday. Investigators from the British Sovereign Base Areas’ Criminal Investigation Department (CID) decided to bring only the father before court, since he is the children’s legal guardian. Motion-activated CCTV footage shows the boys playing in the yard before continuing their game in the car, where they remained for more than three hours. They appear to have entered through an open rear door of the vehicle, parked in the open area of the block of flats where they lived. Philenews reported yesterday that expert examinations found a fault in that door, which remained unlocked despite the car having been locked. The boys then appear to have become trapped after the child safety lock activated. The boys are believed to have entered the car around midday on Sunday and were found unconscious in the back seat by their father’s partner after 5:30pm the same day. Asphyxiation remains the leading theory as to the cause of death, though the Bases are keeping this open at this stage, pending results of tests on samples taken from the boys by Greek forensic pathologist Manolis Sakelliades. The two children had arrived in Cyprus in mid-May, accompanied by relatives, for a holiday with their father, who works in Limassol. The cost of transporting their bodies back to Bulgaria will be covered by the state, a government source said yesterday. Read more: Investigators find car fault behind Xylofagou boys’ deaths Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News The great student swap: Why Cyprus is increasingly drawing foreign students for university Couple arrested after climbing Empire State building to get engaged — “We are just artists” Cypriot, Lebanese, Portuguese, and Swedish short films to be screened in Nicosia Anti-government protesters mark 1,000 days since 07 October 2023 Presidential Palace gets its own helipad (video) On this day: U.S. President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act in 1964, prohibiting racial discrimination These are the five investigators appointed for the Mafia State probe Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.

Source: In-Cyprus
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