Melbourne serial stabber Christopher Raftopoulos refuses to give DNA to police

·

After failure to allow police to swab his mouth, the Greek man from Melbourne Victoria who was accused of stabbing five people earlier this month will now be forced to hand over his DNA to police.

The Greek man, Christopher Raftopoulos is currently spending time in the prison psychiatric ward, after facing 15 different charges, which include recklessly causing injury. 

The Age shared that Mr Raftopoulos made an appearance in Melbourne’s Magistrates Court on Friday via video link with his new lawyer. 

Raftopoulos
The Greek man, Christopher Raftopoulos. Photo: News.com.au.

Prosecutors in the court then ordered him to undergo compulsory forensic procedures to obtain his DNA as he refused a swab to be taken.

“The type of compulsory procedure sought is a buccal swab of the mouth, for the purposes of obtaining a DNA sample to compare with the DNA profile from a knife that was seized,” a prosecutor told the court.

The 31-year-old’s new lawyer Daniel Thompson said although he did not oppose the application, Raftopoulos told him he would not provide his consent to the procedure.

Magistrate Kieran Gilligan made orders for police to take Raftopoulos’ DNA swab, and if need be,  force may be used for the procedure to be conducted.

“The respondent has refused to give consent to the request or is incapable of giving reasonable consent by way of mental impairment,” Mr Gilligan said.

Mr Raftopoulos will return to court on February 12.

Source: The Age.

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Latest News

Debate grows over Archbishop Makarios’ comments on Greek language in Orthodox liturgy

A debate has emerged within the Orthodox community in Australia after Archbishop Makarios reaffirmed the importance of Greek in liturgy.

Bridging borders: John Tripidakis on protecting Greek assets from abroad

For many Australians with ties to Greece, managing legal matters across borders can feel complex, confusing, and at times overwhelming.

Dimitra Skalkos on Ouzo Talk: The reality of running The Greek Herald at 100

As The Greek Herald enters its 100th year, the milestone marks a century of continuous publication serving the Greek Australian community.

Open letter urges constructive path forward for Macquarie Greek Studies Foundation

In an open letter, Leon Bombotas reflects on the future of the Macquarie Greek Studies Foundation following its entry into voluntary admin.

‘Untamed Voices’ sells out, delivering a powerful tribute to rebetiko and female expression

The 44th Greek Festival of Sydney proudly presented Untamed Voices on Sunday, April 19, 2026, at the iconic Factory Theatre.

You May Also Like

McDermott Aviation aircraft return to Australia from Greece to bolster local fire response

McDermott Aviation’s helicopters are returning from Greece just as Australia’s fire season sparks early, with crews already battling fires.

Qantas hit by cyber attack, millions of customer records at risk

Qantas said a cyber attack on a third-party platform linked to one of its centres may have compromised data linked to six million customers.

Giannis Antetokounmpo wins second straight MVP award

The American 'Greek Freak' has won his second straight NBA MVP award, making the Milwaukee Bucks player the first Greek to win two MVP awards.