Cyprus ‘gang rape’ claim teen ditches her lawyer in court row

A BRITISH teenager held in Cyprus over false gang rape claims ditched her local lawyer in court yesterday in a row over how to defend her.

The 19-year-old woman tearfully told a district judge that she wished to appoint a new defence team.

Her Cyprus-based lawyer Andreas Pittadjis had made an application to quit the case citing ‘a serious disagreement with his client and her family in how to handle the defence’.

Once the teenager confirmed it was a mutual decision, Mr Pittadjis and his team were formally dismissed by the judge and dramatically marched out of the district court.

It comes days after the UK organisation Justice Abroad took up the case, claiming

‘Confession obtained under oppression’

she had been coerced into withdrawing her gang rape claim.

She had been expected to enter a plea for the charge of ‘public mischief’ after being accused of making up allegations against 12 Israeli youths in the party resort of Ayia Napa.

But she was remanded in custody until August 19, when a new lawyer will be appointed.

A statement from Justice Abroad said: ‘The family’s position is that the confession was obtained under oppression given the threats made to the teenager, that she was not cautioned and that she was not given access to a lawyer as was her right under the Cypriot Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.’

Human rights lawyer Michael Polak said the teenager had a statement dictated to her. She was compelled to sign it after being threatened with the arrests of her friends and was refused a lawyer.

Police in Cyprus have denied claims of wrongdoing.