UK Judge declares: “Northern Cyprus does not exist”

Below is a direct quote from Hertford Mercury’s website

“An attempt by two brothers to overturn their conviction for the cold-blooded execution of three men in East Herts is being complicated by tense diplomatic relations between the UK and Northern Cyprus.

Three witnesses whose evidence is pivotal in appeals launched by Kevan and Miran Thakrar are living in the state which has not been recognised by the British Government since the Turkish invasion of the island in the 1970s.

Last week, arrangements were made for the UK authorities to send “letters of request” to Cyprus to secure the witnesses’ attendance at an Appeal Court hearing later this summer at which the brothers will challenge their convictions.

But the case was back in court last Friday (May 28) when top judge Lord Justice Stanley Burnton said the letters had been returned undelivered – because all three are living in the northern part of the island.

“Northern Cyprus does not exist I’m afraid. It may have all the trappings of a state but, as far as I am concerned, it doesn’t exist,” the judge told lawyers.”

Source:
Hertford Mercury

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Comments are closed.