Man sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison over accident that led to the death of a Greek Cypriot man

A court in north Cyprus on Thursday sentenced a man to 3 years and 6 months in prison for his part in the accident that resulted in the death of a Greek Cypriot man.

The decision was announced by the Lefkosia district court on Thursday March 27, 2025.

The accident occurred on June 27, 2024 in Bostancı, north Cyprus when Kenan Aşan, hit the car of 61-year-old Greek Cypriot man, Charalambos Anastasiou.

Delivering the decision, the judge noted that the number of traffic accidents resulting in death had increased, that the parliament had increased the penalty for the crime of causing death as a result of negligence in 2024, but that the accident occurred before the law was changed and that the maximum penalty for the crime in question at that time was seven years in prison.

The judge stated that the defendant was accused of 7 counts and found guilty of all counts.

The judge said that the defendant who picked up two hitchhikers along the way was chatting with them, when he came to the traffic lights and did not notice that the light was red and passed.

The judge stated that the accident occurred in a residential area, the speed limit was 50, but the defendant was travelling at 70 km/h.

The judge noted that the other party was also travelling above the speed limit, and that he was thrown from the vehicle and was under his vehicle because he was not wearing a seat belt while driving, adding that these factors added contributory fault to the accident. However, the judge said that the contributory fault of the defendant was greater.

The judge noted that the number of accidents resulting in death has increased and is causing concern in society.

The judge stated that they evaluated all the factors when determining the sentence for the defendant, and that they considered his being married and having 3 children, and admitting his guilt from the very first day in his favor, and sentenced him to 3 years and 6 months in prison.