All acquitted in the death of the woman crushed by a crane

The indictment included 5 individuals, three individuals and two companies.

The Larnaca District Court acquitted all 5 individuals from the prima facie case, after ruling that from all the testimony presented before it, calling them to testify was not justified.

In its decision, the court noted that none of the constituent elements of the offenses are met, nor are their details proven. In fact, it also mentions gaps and contradictions identified in the testimony of the Prosecuting Authority. 

In 2017, also by decision of the Larnaca District Court, the crane operator was acquitted, who was facing charges related to causing death due to a reckless or dangerous act, omission of duties by persons responsible for dangerous things, negligent acts causing bodily harm and grievous bodily harm.  

In its decision, the Court stated that the operator was accused of having, on October 10, 2012, due to a dangerous act that does not amount to culpable negligence, without intent, failed to fully unlock the crane, causing it to fall, resulting in the death of British national Christine M. Coleman and the injury of three other people.

The Court, as on the second occasion, after a lengthy hearing, ruled that the Prosecution Authority failed to prove its case against the accused, since “there is not a shred of evidence” that the operator “did not take all appropriate actions to unlock the crane so that it could rotate in the direction of the wind. The fact that he was the last operator (of the crane) does not prove in itself, especially in a criminal case, which should be beyond all reasonable doubt, that he failed to take the necessary precautions, which resulted in the crane falling.”  

It is noted that the tragic accident resulted in the death of the then 67-year-old British woman, Christine M. Coleman, who was riding in a vehicle, and her husband, who was the driver, was also injured, while extensive material damage was caused to vehicles parked on the coastal road of Finikoudes on the fateful day.

The first three defendants (DEZO CONSTRUCTIONS & DEVELOPERS LTD, Mr. Panayi, Mr. Nikoletti) were represented by Mr. Antonis Dimitriou and Ms. Chrys. Christofi for the law firm Dimitriou & Dimitriou LLC, while defendants 4 and 5 (TC TOWERS CRANES LTD and P. Stagakis) were represented by E.K. Efstathiou and Ms. Th. Papacharalambous.