A Greek Australian is the First Fatality of the Melbourne Attack

The man accused of mowing down pedestrians in Melbourne’s CBD, now faces a murder charge following the death of 83-year-old Antonios Crocaris, on Friday 29 December.

Mr Crocaris had been in hospital since 21 December, when he was hit by a car, allegedly driven by Saeed Noori, a 32-year-old Afghan refugee and Australian citizen with a history of drug and mental health problems, who is accused of deliberately driving towards pedestrians on on the corner of Flinders and Elizabeth streets.

“Our father Anton had his life cruelly taken away in a senseless act of violence,” the family said in a statement, in which they thanked the people of Melbourne, the first responders who treated Mr Crocaris and others, including the staff of The Alfred Hospital Intensive Care Unit.  The family has asked for privacy in this matter.

“These circumstances are devastating to our family. Dad is simply irreplaceable and we will never fully recover from this loss. He was a beloved husband of Elizabeth, adored father of Freda, Tony and Bill, and cherished grandfather of Verity, Lysander and Jackson.”

Mr Crocaris is the first fatality, from the December 21 attack.

Four other victims still remain in hospital, one of whom; a South Korean man in his 60s, is in critical condition.

Source: Neos Kosmos