LESBOS, Greece – A 78-year-old Lesbos man accused of opening fire and injuring a 16-year-old Syrian asylum-seeker in his yard was on Monday remanded in custody, with the agreement of the prosecutor and magistrate handling the case. The teenager, who was with his parents and younger brother when the shooting happened, was admitted to hospital but did not sustain life-threatening injuries.

The family, who had arrived on the island just days before, said they had taken refuge in the man’s yard to protect themselves from violent riots that broke out in the Moria reception and identification centre.

The magistrate rejected proposals by his counsel that the 78-year-old be placed under house arrest and pay for the cost of fitting an ankle monitor, sources said.

The suspect, who has two prior and unrelated convictions for murder (of his wife and of a friend) will be remanded in custody in the Lesbos police jail until an appeal against the decision is heard by the Mytilene misdemeanour justices’ council.