HERO BRIT KILLED IN HOLS ISLE 'HIT-RUN MURDER'
Good Samaritan builder targeted
HERO holiday Brit Charlie Birch was mown down and killed in a “revenge hit and run” after helping a woman in a bar brawl in Cyprus.
TRIBUTES flooded in last night for a Brit holidaymaker deliberately killed in a hit-and-run after helping a woman in a brawl.
Father-of-two Charlie Birch, 39, was on a night out with brotherin-law Will Pritchard, 32, when the two men were targeted after an earlier bar fight.
The pair were mown down near Paphos in Cyprus as they walked back to their holiday home.
Charlie, a builder and keen golfer from Welshpool, Powys, died at the scene. Self-employed salesman Will was also badly injured and is now in hospital in Paphos.
The pair stepped in to defend a woman involved in a vicious row with a man in the Coral Bay resort near Paphos.
Charlie – described by friends as “the salt of the earth” in a deluge of online tributes – was on a dream family holiday with his two daughters and mum, along with his sister and Will and their two children.
Dumped
Emergency services were called at
3am after passers-by found the two men lying in the road.
Police found the car thought to have been used in the attack dumped in the sea nearby.
A 35-year-old man and a 23-yearold woman were later arrested and appeared in court charged with premeditated murder and attempted murder.
They were both remanded in custody by the judge.
Charlie’s other brother-in-law, Adrian Bowen, said last night: “This is an absolutely horrendous experience.
“The family are now trying to fly home as soon as they can.”
Family friend Graham Breeze said: “Charlie was very well-known and wellliked here.
“It is a terrible tragedy for the family and a very tragic end to what should have been the perfect family holiday.
Another pal wrote in a social media tribute to Charlie: “Absolute legend of a guy!”
A third post said: “Rest in Peace Charlie Birch, you were one of few people in Welshpool who I loved and adored!
“You looked after me regardless of my many shortcomings!”
Others described him online as a “loyal friend”, and “an awesome dad”.
A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said consular officials in Cyprus were offering advice and support to the family.