Stabbing suspect gives thumbs-up after Greek court rejects extradition to Australia
Updated . First published at
James Dalamangas, one of Australia’s most wanted fugitives, may never face trial after a Greek court rejected an extradition request for him.
The 56-year-old was arrested in a Greek village last month, 27 years after the stabbing death of George Giannopoulos at a nightclub in Belmore, in Sydney’s west.
Dalamangas was seen smiling and giving a thumbs-up outside court after his extradition to Australia was denied. Supplied
Dalamangas fled overseas following the 1999 stabbing.
The Giannopoulos family had hoped Dalamangas would finally be returned to NSW to face court over the killing of their loved one, who was stabbed to death while trying to break up a brawl.
“He can give as many thumbs-ups as he likes,” George’s sister, Toula Giannapoulos told 9News.
“The whole world knows what he looks like and knows what he’s done, and if he can live with it, good luck to him.”
Greek media outlet Tempo24 reported the Patras Court of Appeals decided not to hand Dalamangas over to Australian authorities as he remains “free on restrictive conditions”.
According to local media, the Greek court ruled that Dalamangas was ineligible for extradition to Australia because the time of his alleged offence fell outside the nation’s 25-year statute of limitations.
“The decision was made because the offence is statute-barred in Greece,” one media outlet quoted Dalamangas’ lawyer, Giannis Apostolopoulos, as saying.
“Our arguments were accepted, particularly the fact that the offence had become time-barred under Greek law.
George Giannopoulos was fatally stabbed at a Belmore nightclub in 1999. 9News
“Under both our country’s criminal procedure and the Greece–Australia treaty, if the offence has become time-barred in either country, that constitutes a mandatory ground for refusing extradition.”
The verdict has left Giannopolous’ family furious.
They said they are “disgusted in Greece” as they continue to seek justice for their brother’s death.
James Dalamangas was quickly suspected over the AFP
“For a person that is wanted by Interpol and is now allowed to cruise back home… disgusted,” Toula Giannapoulos said.
“It makes me angry that he’s been living like nothing’s ever happened while we’ve been fighting with Greece for the past 27 years to extradite him.”
Dalamangas was arrested in a rural area near Patras in June, where authorities allege he had been living under a different name since leaving Australia.
His arrest revived hopes of a breakthrough in a case that has remained unresolved for almost three decades.
Police issued a warrant for Dalamangas’ arrest following the killing but believed he had already fled the country and settled in Greece.
The Giannopoulos family believed there was still a pathway for Dalamangas to be returned to Australia, despite complications surrounding Greek legal time limits.
James Dalamangas was reportedly released from the Agios Stefanos detention centre in early July. 9News
The family believe they have just five days remaining to lodge an official appeal against the court’s decision.
“We would like the Australian government to step in, as we need to take this matter to the higher courts of Greece,” Toula said.
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