A dramatic development has occurred in the horrific child abuse case in Larnaca. The father and mother, who last December had pleaded guilty to dozens of the most serious charges, have suddenly changed their plea to not guilty.
The reversal forces the court to reinstate all charges that had been initially removed. The defendants now face 121 counts, with hearings set for 19 May. The four children themselves will serve as key witnesses.
This is the third time the defendants have changed lawyers, a move signalling what is expected to be a lengthy trial. Proceedings are held behind closed doors to protect the children, two of whom are still minors.
The case came to light in March 2025, when one of the children confided in school about the horrors they endured. The 48-year-old man is accused of forcing the children to work in fields, beating them brutally, while one girl also reported sexual abuse. The charges span a period beginning in 2009, with the truth only emerging 16 years later.
