Bouncer jailed 22 years for killing Aussie tourist - Greece

[WtD_Oracle]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010 ... ion=justin

A nightclub bouncer has told a court in Greece that he did not mean to kill a 20-year-old Sydney man in an altercation outside a nightclub on Mykonos in 2008.

Doujon Zammit was on the holiday island of Mykonos with his friends when he died at the hands of a group of men who attacked him with a baton.

Wearing a bullet-proof vest, bouncer Marios Antonopoulos was escorted into the court under heavy police guard for what turned out to be an emotional opening day of his trial on the island of Lesbos.

He has denied murder, but admitted to the court that he did cause bodily harm.

Antonopoulos' mother broke down as she spoke of her own grief, saying she wanted to give the Zammit family a hug, because she too feels like she's lost a son.

Outside court Mr Zammit's father Oliver Zammit spoke of the family's quest for justice.

"My family and I are here today to seek justice against four men that attacked our son and some other Australian tourists, brutally, leaving two of them injured and my son dead," he said.

Kostas Gribilas, who received Mr Zammit's heart in a transplant shortly after his death, was at the court to support the Zammit family

"It's the least that I can do for them, just to be on their side and support them and give my love to them," he said.

If found guilty of murder, Antonopoulos faces a life sentence. Three other men have been charged with complicity.

The trial is expected to last at least a fortnight.

[WtD_Oracle]

http://bigpondnews.com/articles/World/2 ... 17898.html

A Greek nightclub bouncer accused of the murder of Australian tourist Doujon Zammit says he never meant to kill the 20 year old.

Marios Antonopoulos told the court in Lesbos he panicked on the night in July 2008 when he struck Zammit.

He and three others are accused of bashing Doujon and four friends outside a Mykonos nightclub.

Earlier Doujon's mother broke down while giving evidence at the trial.

His father spoke for three hours claiming Doujon's friends also would have been killed in the incident if passers by hadn't stopped to help

The trial is expected to conclude this weekend.

[WtD_Oracle]

http://www.smh.com.au/world/bouncer-jai ... -mod1.html

A GREEK nightclub bouncer has been jailed for 22½ years over the death of Australian tourist Doujon Zammit.

Marios Antonopoulos, 25, was yesterday found guilty of inflicting wounds that caused the 20-year-old Sydney man's death in a brawl on the holiday island of Mykonos in July 2008.

Two other men involved in the attack were jailed for 7½ and eight years.

All three men were found guilty after having their original charges of murder and attempted murder downgraded by a panel of judges and jurors following a trial on the island of Lesbos.

Mr Zammit's mother, Rosemarie, his father, Oliver, and his two younger brothers were in court to hear the verdicts and sentences.

Sitting in the front row of the public gallery, Mrs Zammit clutched a picture of her son and wore a gold locket containing a photo of him.

Antonopoulos showed little emotion when the verdicts and sentences were read out.

He sat alongside George Chatzioannou and Dimitri Varonas, who were found guilty of being present during the attack but without the intention of killing Mr Zammit instead of the original charges of attempted murder.

Chatzioannou was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison, while Varonas was handed a 7½-year sentence.

However, both escaped being jailed after the court allowed them to walk free on bail of €10,000 ($15,600) after their lawyers said they would appeal against their sentences.

Mr and Mrs Zammit expressed fears that Chatzioannou and Varonas could flee Greece while on bail and never face the punishment imposed on them.

"We believe in justice, we believe in the law and we accept the sentences that were passed down,'' Mr Zammit told reporters outside the court.

"[We're] a bit disappointed two men are going to be walking the streets, two men that have proven to be dishonest.

"Two men that have the financial ability to leave this country and never come back so they won't have to serve their time.''

Antonopoulos also intends to appeal against his sentence, but will remain behind bars until his case is heard by a higher court.

He and two other Australian men had left the Tropicana nightclub about 11pm on July 28, 2008, on a quad bike and were chased by Antonopoulos and three others amid a dispute over a missing handbag.

The Australians were confronted by the men about 1.5 kilometres from the club, pushed up against a wall and searched before Mr Zammit was repeatedly beaten and hit with batons.

He was taken to hospital in Athens but later died when his life-support machine was turned off.

The nightclub owner, Stamatis Daktylidis, was earlier found not guilty of supplying weapons.

A fifth person accused of being involved in the attack is due to face a separate trial in a juvenile court.

[ahmed]

22 and half years.wow.he deserved it.why dont we get sentances like that in our own country???!!!??