Parents stare down Doujon Zammit’s accused killers in court

CLASPING each others’ hands for support, the family of Sydney tourist Doujon Zammit faced his alleged killers in court yesterday.
Parents Oliver and Rosemarie and their sons Zeake and Laurent took front row seats in the packed courtroom in Mytilene on the island of Lesbos.
Sitting behind translating was Kostas Gribilas, who received Doujon’s heart, and his wife Poppy.
It was a harrowing start for the Zammits amid moves to have the trial postponed, which could have allowed the main defendant to walk free.
Nightclub bouncer Marios Antonopoulos is accused of beating Doujon, 20, with a fold-out baton on the island of Mykonos almost 18 months ago. Antonopoulos, 26, has been charged with offences including murder with intent and bodily harm and faces life imprisonment if convicted. He is on trial alongside three other men on lesser charges.
George Chatzioannou and Dimitris Varonas have been charged as accessories to both murder and attempted murder for their alleged involvement in the assault.
But lawyers for the defendants sought to stop the trial going ahead because key witnesses were not present.
Doujon’s cousin Cameron Tabone, who was with him during the assault, could not attend for “financial reasons” and provided a written statement.
Also missing were three other Australian witnesses and a Greek resident who called an ambulance on the night.
Under Greek law prisoners can be held for 18 months before going on trial, a time limit that will soon pass.
(source: daily telegraph, David Murray)