I am a Detective Inspector in the Cyprus Police stationed at C.I.D., Force headquarters, Nicosia.

The deceased Kyriakos Christofi MATSIS was born at Palechori, Nicosia district, on the 2nd may, 1926. he attended the primary school at Palechori and later the Famagusta Gymnasium, from 1939 until 1945. After working in Famagusta he went to Salonika University in Greece, as an Agricultural student from 1946 until 1952. he then returned to Cyprus and obtained work as a farm manager.

On the 9th January, 1956, he was arrested as suspected member of E.O.K.A. and on the 26th January, 1956, he was served with a Detention order under the Emergency Regulations. On the 30th January, 1956, he was taken to Kokkinotrimithia Detention Camp where he was detained until 13th September,1956, when with six other persons he escaped from custody.

Following his escape he was publicly circulated on posters throughout Cyprus as a wanted person, and there was a reward of £5,000 for information leading to his arrest. This amount was later reduced to £500.

At 1655 hours on Wednesday 19th November, 1958, in consequence of information received, I went with other officers to a house at Kato Dhikomo village, which I now know is the house of Kyriakos CHRISTODOULOU, alias DIAKOS. I went to a room at the rear of the house where I saw there was a tiled floor. At a spot near the rear window of the room I saw that a section of four tiles forming a square, had been removed together with a block of concrete, leaving a hole in the floor of the room. On looking into this hole, I saw that a hide had been constructed under the floor of the room. In the hide I saw the body of a man, also two automatic weapons.

A few minutes later I was present when Major HARRISON, Government Explosives Officer, arrived at the scene and made an examination of the hide. I assisted Major HARRISON and Detective Sergeant SMITH in the removal of the body, and was present when weapons, ammunition and other property (list produced) were handed up from the hide to Detective Sergeant SMITH.

With Detective Sergeant SMITH I later escorted the body of the man to the Mortuary, Nicosia General Hospital, where it was left under guard.

At 2100 hours I took possession of the firearms, ammunition and other listed property from Detective Sergeant SMITH and retained it all in my possession until the morning of the 20th November, 1958, when I handed it to Chief Superintendent BIRD, Forensic Science Department, Force Headquarters.

At 1000 hours on the following morning, 20th November, 1958, I went to the Mortuary, Nicosia General Hospital, again, and I was present when the body was identified by Christoforos Kyriakou MATSIS of Palechori as that of his son Kyriakos Christofi MATSIS to Dr. Sanerkin, Detective Inspector Walters and myself.

I was present when a post Mortem examination was carried out on the body by Dr. Sanerkin, and I was handed a number of metal fragments which I saw removed from the body of the deceased. These were placed in a glass jar. I also took possession of the clothing of the deceased and I kept this, and the metal fragments, in my possession until later that morning when I handed them to Chief Superintendent BIRD, Forensic Science Department, Force Headquarters.

(S.E. COX)
Detective Inspector