Man who strangled Afghani refugee with shoelace in Adelaide jailed for 11 years
A Queensland man who strangled an Afghani refugee with a shoelace on the side of a busy Adelaide road has been jailed for a maximum of 11 years and one month.
David John Pearce was found guilty of the attempted murder of Abdolhadi Moradi – a man who he had never met but tried to kill on the side of the Salisbury Highway in January 2018.
The 37-year-old approached his victim from behind, wrapped the shoelace around his neck and dragged him to the pavement, as Mr Moradi struggled to free himself and eventually lost consciousness.
David John Pearce will serve at least six years behind bars for starngling an Afghani refugee in Adelaide with a shoelace in an attempted murder. 9news
Justice Sam Doyle today delivered his final remarks in the case against Pearce, sentencing him to at least six years in prison for the attempted murder.
During the case, the Supreme Court of South Australia heard how Mr Moradi feared he was going to die in the attack.
"I felt all strength was leaving me. I felt myself going cold. I thought I was dying," Mr Moradi’s victim statement said at the time.
Abdolhadi Moradi told the court he feared he was going to die in the attack, in which Pearce approached him from behind. SA Police
Abdolhadi Moradi said he was left asking why he was targeted, despite Pearce's lawyers saying the attack was a case of mistaken identity. SA Police
Mr Moradi - who cares for his three siblings - also told the court he was left asking why Pearce targeted him, three years after his family moved to Australia from Afghanistan.
"Just imagine what would've happened to my siblings if I had died. They would've been left without a guardian for protection... What would you have gained?"
Pearce’s jail sentence today comes after his lawyer earlier claimed the attack was the result of mistaken identity, saying the 37-year-old had been "chased" by three men, demanding money, hours earlier.
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
