I am a Detective Sergeant No. 2481 in the Cyprus Police stationed at C.I.D., Kyrenia.

At about 0630 hours on Wednesday 19th November, 1958, with Detective Sergeant Salem YIVOUZ, I left Kyrenia and went to Kato Dhikomo village arriving at 0700 hours. I saw that a Military operation was being carried out in the village, by Security Forces of the Wiltshire Regiment, Parachute Regiment and Cyprus Police. This consisted of house searches and detaining of male persons for questioning, in which I assisted.

At about 1300 hours, with Detective Sergeant YIVOUZ, I was called to a house on the north western edge of the village, which I now know belongs to Kyriakos CHRISTODOULOU alias DIAKOS. On arrival I saw that the house was surrounded by Military personnel. I went into the house which consisted of four rooms and a central hall. The house was a single storey building. The hall was full of furniture which appeared to have been taken from the right hand rear room which was empty of furniture. I saw Military personnel, including Major McRITCHIE and major KNOTT, in the room. I saw that the floor of this room was tiled with stone tiles and I saw that four tiles had been removed from a point near the rear window, revealing a concrete base. I then saw and interpreter kneeling down on the floor, adjacent to this spot, and he was speaking in a foreign language. I heard him say “MATSIS” and a muffled voice replied in a foreign language, from beneath the floor of the room. A conversation then took place between the interpreter and the person under the floor. I heard the interpreter translate the conversation, stating, “He refuses to surrender and says that a person in his position cannot do so. He has given the other two bys the opportunity of coming out alive but he refuses to come out. They have arms and ammunition down there”. Orders were then given for the room to be cleared and all persons present left the house and I went into the garden at the rear of the house.

Shortly afterwards I saw a man in the room through the window, where the conversation has taken place.

I then saw two men climb through the window of this room and both these men had their hands raised above their heads. As these men walked into the garden, I went up to them, with Military, and took particulars of their identities.

Whilst I was talking to these men I heard a burst of automatic fire from the direction of the house. A few minutes later I heard the sound of an explosion from the direction of the house, followed a minute or so later by a second similar explosion.

A few minutes later I went into the house and in the room at the rear where I had previously seen the tiles removed from the floor, I saw major McRITCHIE, Major KNOTT and other Military personnel. I saw that a slab of concrete had been removed from the spot where the tiles had previously been removed, revealing a hole in the floor. I looked into the hole and saw that a hide had been constructed under the floor. In the hide I saw the body of a man and I saw that his right leg was almost severed. I also saw two sub-machine guns, one of which I recognised as a Sterling.

I caused a message to be sent for a Bomb Disposal Expert.

I then remained in the house and nobody was allowed to enter the hide for fear of explosives. I was present when, at 1700 hours, Major HARRISON arrived at the scene and made an examination of the hide. With Detective Inspector COX I assisted him in the removal of the body from the hide, and I was handed by him two sub-machine guns, ammunition and other property from the hide (list produced).

With Detective Inspector COX I later escorted the body of the man to the Nicosia General Hospital Mortuary, where it was placed under guard.

At 2100 hours that evening I handed to Detective Inspector COX all property recovered from the hide.

(L.A. SMITH)
Detective Sergeant No. 2481