Greek Cyprus justice minister quits over serial murders

By Mehmet Hatipoglu

LEFKOSA, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (AA) - Greek Cypriot justice minister resigned Thursday amid public outcry over the murder of at least seven women in a serial killing spree that went on for three years.

"I informed the president of the republic that I am resigning for reasons of political sensitivity," Justice Minister told reporters

Ionas Nicolaou submitted his resignation to Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades, who said that Nicolaou was not responsible for the case but he resigned due to his "political sensitivity".

Greek military officer Nikos Metaxas (35) has confessed to killing seven foreign women including two girls.

He was detained on April 14 in a murder investigation launched after 39-year old Philippino Mary Rose Tiburcio, who was found dead in the west of Nicosia.

The remains of four women have been found and the police were still searching for the bodies of the other three of the victims.

Among the victims were Philippino nationals Arian Palanas Lozano and Maricar Valdez Arquila, Rumanian Livia Florentina Bunea and her 8-year old daughter Elena, Nepali Kata Anou as well as Tiburcio’s six-year-old daughter Sierra.

All victims were migrant women who came to Greek Cypriot to work.

The Greek Cypriot administration asked for help from British experts for the serial killer case which was labeled as the first ever on the island.

*Writing by Burak Bir