First of all, look at this video:
It shows two students being beaten up by ten Cyprus policemen. Both students were hospitalised with severe facial and abdominal injuries, after their release.
The victims made a complaint and a few days later, it transpired that someone had videoed the entire incident. The cops were suspended on half-pay.
Secondly, it came to the criminal court, where the 10 cops were charged with a whole host of felonies, I think about 35 between them in all.
Thirdly, it came to trial on Thursday, before three judges (no jury). All 10 cops were acquitted of all charges, were set free and will undoubtedly be reinstated with restitution of their full back pay plus compensation. The Attorney General was refused the right, in an intervention, to consult the Supreme Court about the pretended grounds for acquittal (that the video could not be proved to be validly acceptable as evidence).
Fourthly, there were street protests yesterday, very widely mentioned in all the newspapers, with several pages devoted to the apparent injustice.
Black page in the history of Cypriot justice
The police can now hurt us and get away with it’
Confidence in police at an all-time low
Justice setting a precedent for citizens to be beaten by police
Protests at Cyprus police beating verdict
'Cyprus is a Banana Republic, rejoice in your justice system'
It shows two students being beaten up by ten Cyprus policemen. Both students were hospitalised with severe facial and abdominal injuries, after their release.
The victims made a complaint and a few days later, it transpired that someone had videoed the entire incident. The cops were suspended on half-pay.
Secondly, it came to the criminal court, where the 10 cops were charged with a whole host of felonies, I think about 35 between them in all.
Thirdly, it came to trial on Thursday, before three judges (no jury). All 10 cops were acquitted of all charges, were set free and will undoubtedly be reinstated with restitution of their full back pay plus compensation. The Attorney General was refused the right, in an intervention, to consult the Supreme Court about the pretended grounds for acquittal (that the video could not be proved to be validly acceptable as evidence).
Fourthly, there were street protests yesterday, very widely mentioned in all the newspapers, with several pages devoted to the apparent injustice.
Black page in the history of Cypriot justice
The police can now hurt us and get away with it’
Confidence in police at an all-time low
Justice setting a precedent for citizens to be beaten by police
Protests at Cyprus police beating verdict
'Cyprus is a Banana Republic, rejoice in your justice system'
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