Man accused of Canberra pub murder pleads not guilty
Warren Hordpenko died after he was allegedly tackled off a bar stool at the Kingston Hotel. ACT Policing
A man accused of murder over a death at a Canberra pub has pleaded not guilty.
Kerry Kourpanidis allegedly left his victim Warren Hordpenko, 44, lying unconscious on the floor of the Kingston Hotel after tackling him off a stool and repeatedly punching him on July 5.
Appearing in the ACT Magistrates Court today, the 35-year-old's lawyer Gavin Mansfield told the court his client would be pleading not guilty.
Kerry Kourpanidis is accused of murdering a man at the Kingston Hotel. Instagram
Police allege the Mr Kourpanidis fled the scene while paramedics and police attempted to resuscitate Mr Hordpenko for more than half-an-hour.
Court documents allege Mr Kourpanidis returned to Kingston a few days later, and waited in a car while a friend looked around the pub.
Mr Kourpanidis was arrested after police intercepted a phone call in which they claim he told his partner "It's a different area, no CCTV. The person I had a confrontation with ... you know, was probably a different person as well".
He was charged with murder and refused bail the following day.
It's alleged the victim had been "noticeably intoxicated" and "annoying other patrons" that evening.
Police claim Mr Kourpanidis had been at the pub with family – allegedly returning after dropping his daughter at home and yelling "you f---ed with my daughter, c---" during the attack.
The case returns to court in September.
Mr Kourpanidis remains in custody.
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