Cyprus hit-and-run murder trial to take place in January
A Georgian man will stand trial in the new year after denying the murder of a father in a hit-and-run crash in Cyprus.
Charlie Birch, 39, was found dead on a road in Pathos in June, with his brother-in-law left injured after they were struck by a car in the early hours of the morning.
A 35-year-old man was arrested, along with a 23-year-old women who was later released.
The man appeared before a court in Cyprus yesterday, where he issued a not guilty plea to both murder and attempted murder charges.
The defendant has claimed he struck the two men by accident, and he is now in custody pending a trial on January 29 next year.
The incident happened at 2.30am on June 24, when two men were found lying injured in the road on the Peyia-Ayios Georghios road in Paphos.
Mr Birch, a builder from Welshpool, died of multiple injuries.
The car was later found abandoned in Ayios Georghios Harbour, and had to be pulled out of the sea by the fire service.
The pair were picked up shortly after and were arrested by police, but the 23-year-old woman was released.
The court on Wednesday heard how the car had been dumped in the sea in an attempt to conceal evidence.
