Xylophagou’s father request to travel to Bulgaria for children’s funeral delayed

Local British BasesbulgariaTop Newstrial Xylophagou’s father request to travel to Bulgaria for children’s funeral delayed 759574200 1387791653355214 2168951659073411193 N Relevant News Police arrest 20-year-old over Limassol stabbing 31 July 2026 Xylophagou’s father request to travel to Bulgaria for children’s funeral delayed 31 July 2026 Unverified video shows Beitar fans attacking AEK supporter, days on from Larnaca clash 31 July 2026 Natasa Christoforou 31 July 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber The British Bases court has yet to decide whether a 30-year-old Bulgarian father can attend the funeral of his two children, found dead in Xylofagou on June 28, as the case remains tangled in a jurisdictional dispute with the Republic of Cyprus. Charges against the father are expected on September 22, with a trial to follow on November 30 if he pleads not guilty. No decision was reached today on whether the father will be granted permission to attend the funeral of his two children, aged 8 and 10, who were found dead in their stepmother’s car in Xylofagou on the afternoon of June 28. The judge said he would announce his decision in a few days, due to legal questions raised by the father’s lawyer. These questions have again highlighted recurring problems in criminal cases that cross into the British Bases’ jurisdiction. The children’s bodies have remained at the Bases for more than a month and are expected to be transferred to Bulgaria, at the expense of the Cypriot government, once the court rules on the father’s request. The hearing on the father’s request, along with his application for conditional release, began yesterday via video conference and continued today with the prosecution representative’s closing submissions. These focused on the risk of the accused fleeing if released under conditions, given that he resides on Republic of Cyprus territory. The prosecution representative categorically rejected the position of the father’s lawyer, Christos Theodoulou, that a legal framework exists allowing Republic of Cyprus authorities to execute an arrest warrant against the father. Investigator Christodoulos Christodoulou, testifying for this purpose, noted that there are 700 unexecuted warrants at the Bases, 90% of which concern people living on Republic territory. Theodoulou, in response, noted that a procedure for mutual cooperation exists under the Treaty of Establishment, as well as legislation concerning fugitives. He also proposed that the Bases authorities submit a request for assistance to the Attorney General of the Republic, a proposal the prosecution rejected. It is recalled that during yesterday’s submissions, striking details emerged around the case. Theodoulou said the children had not been left unsupervised, arguing that the accused’s brother and cousin were looking after them. “The family’s circumstances must also be taken into account. The father had to work on Sundays too because of financial difficulties. The mother didn’t want the children, and they were being raised by their grandmother. The father had two options: either leave them with the state, or bring them to Cyprus,” he said. For its part, the prosecution had focused on the seriousness of the offences, noting that the father, after finishing work, went to a kiosk for a drink. The prosecution representative read part of the stepmother’s original statement, in which she alleged that her partner hit her when he drank. “When I got home that day, he told me on the phone that he was at a kiosk and would have a beer and come home. I packed my clothes into two suitcases to leave, and then I found the children,” she reportedly said in her statement. It is noted that, according to the father’s defence, this statement was later withdrawn. The charges against the father are expected to be read on September 22, when he will be asked whether he admits guilt or not. If he pleads not guilty, the hearing of the case will begin on November 30. It is recalled that the two siblings had been left unsupervised after the father rushed to his job in Limassol on the morning of June 28, as did his 38-year-old partner, who was arrested but later released. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Police arrest 20-year-old over Limassol stabbing Unverified video shows Beitar fans attacking AEK supporter, days on from Larnaca clash Larnaca joins 2026 stray cat sterilisation scheme Hi-tech justice: now with a live connection… to a prison Road machine overturns in Paphos, trapping one of four hospitalised workers Women in employment: Highly educated, poorly represented in power Unions back mayors’ protest, demand sustainable funding Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.