Man pleads not guilty to Charlie manslaughter

A 35-year-old man pleaded not guilty to manslaughter on Tuesday following the death of Welshpool man Charlie Birch, who was hit by a car in a Cyprus holiday resort last summer.

The Cyprus Mail is reporting that Demetrios Elidzides, a Georgian national, was formally charged with the new offence after prosecutors decided to downgrade a premeditated murder charge, which he had already denied, to manslaughter. The court adjourned until March 19.

The incident took place in the early hours of Sunday, June 24, 2018. Police said they had received a call at 2.30am informing them that two pedestrians were lying injured on the tarmac on the Peyia-Ayios Georghios road in Paphos.

On arriving at the scene, police found 39-year-old Charlie on the ground. Next to him was his injured friend, Will Pritchard, 32, who is also from Welshpool. Charlie, a builder, sadly died from multiple injuries.

The car, which was driven by the suspect who also had his girlfriend with him, was later found abandoned at the Ayios Georghios harbour. It was in the sea and had to be pulled out by the fire service. The suspect and his girlfriend left the harbour on foot and were picked up on the road shortly afterwards by police.