GUNNED down with silver bullets in a palatial home on Billionaire’s Row, the murder of fashion mogul Aristos Constantinou had all the hallmarks of a gritty crime drama.
On New Year’s Day in 1985, the tycoon was in the chapel of Hampstead Heath home when masked men burst in and opened fire.
News Group Newspapers LtdAristos Constantinou was gunned down in his mansion in 1985[/caption]
PA:Press AssociationHis wife Elena was previously named as a prime suspect but denied her involvement[/caption]
Aristos, who founded the Areilla fashion label, was shot several times in what later became known as the “Silver Bullets Murder”.
His wife Elena survived the execution at the couple’s seven-bedroom mansion – leading some to believe she was behind the attack.
Now, on the 40th anniversary of Aristos’ death, we examine the chilling case.
Aristos – the son of a master tailor – graduated from the London College of Fashion in 1965.
He first worked for Mattli the Couturier in Mayfair before starting his own business.
After brother Achilleas finished university, the pair launched clothing company Ariella.
The siblings expanded their business from a store on Carnaby Street to providing clothing to retailers such as Jane Norman and John Lewis.
By 1985, Ariella had 11 stores and more than 300 wholesale accounts across the world.
In the early hours of New Years’ Daym the horror unfolded after Aristos and Elena returned to the family home from a party.
Despite his elaborate security system, masked raiders burst in and demanded the tycoon hand over valuables worth £4.7million.
Aristos was then blasted twice in the back of the head at close range.
Mum-of-three Elena claimed she had been locked in an upstairs bathroom by the two burglars when she heard a series of shots.
She said she managed to escape by climbing down a drainpipe and ran screaming into the road where she flagged a passing motorist.
News Group Newspapers LtdThe seven-bedroom mansion where the horror unfolded[/caption]
Police believed at the time that Aristos may have been killed after he tried to fight off the intruders due to injuries found on his right hand.
A murder probe was launched but with no major leads, the finger of blame soon pointed to Elena.
Detectives poked holes in her version of events after she significantly changed her story nine months later.
It then emerged the killer had used an Italian-made Fiocchi gun with bullets that had not been produced since 1961.
In the months leading up to the horror, Elena divulged to a family friend that she had started carrying a gun in her handbag for protection.
The Constantinou family also received statements that suggested Aristos was planning to disinherit his wife after discovering several infidelities.
To add to the intrigue, a maid came forward to claim that shortly after the murder, Elena had begged her not to tell police about an affair.
But without any concrete evidence, the case went cold and the once-grand mansion lay abandoned.
There is one thing my family are sure of and that is [Elena] knows exactly how and why my brother was murdered and by whom.
Aristos’ brother Achilleas
In 1998, the family were given fresh hope when a second police investigation was launched naming Elena as a prime suspect.
However, their dreams of finally getting justice for Aristos were dashed when the Crown Prosecution Service found the new evidence was insufficient to warrant prosecution.
The family decided to plough ahead with a private prosecution in 2006 with the help of then-barrister Sir Keir Starmer.
DNA found on Aristos’ clothing and a shard of glass from a broken kitchen door was examined but proved inconclusive.
Brother Achilleas said he was repeatedly told by police that the evidence “only pointed to one suspect”.
Despite this, the CPS has continually refused to prosecute the case.
Achilleas claimed he received a letter from the body, saying the reason for their decision would not be revealed because it is “privileged material”.
He said previously: “There is one thing my family are sure of and that is [Elena] knows exactly how and why my brother was murdered and by whom.”
PA:Press AssociationAristos’ murder remains unsolved[/caption]
Elena, who moved to Cyprus after the murder and remarried twice, has always denied her involvement.
In 2002, she confirmed she would not be returning to the UK for questioning.
Scotland Yard told The Sun Online: The Metropolitan Police Service remains committed to solving the murder of Aristos Constantinou who was brutally murdered in East Finchley on New Year’s Day in 1985.
“As with any undetected murder, we will act on any new information we are given and carry out regular reviews of the case.
“A review of this case is currently ongoing.”
Anyone with information can call police on 0207 230 4294 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
News Group Newspapers LtdElena later moved to Cyprus and remarried[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
