Five men have been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Greek tourist Antonis Antoniadis, who was stabbed to death after leaving a London nightclub last July.
Antoniadis, 26, was followed from the 32 Portland Place club in the early hours of July 7, 2024 and attacked outside his accommodation in New Cross, south-east London, after resisting a robbery attempt.
The killers, Shian Johnson (26), Sofian Alliche (20), Amin Alliche (18), Joshua McCorquodale (21) and Alfie Hipple (18), were all from Camden and had targeted Antoniadis for his designer Lacoste bag and Versace watch.
At the Old Bailey, Johnson was ordered to serve at least 28 years before being eligible for parole. Minimum terms for the others ranged from 22 to 26 years.
Judge Rebecca Trowler KC condemned the group’s lack of remorse, noting some defendants laughed in court. She described Antoniadis as “a kind, caring, loving, funny and sociable young man… deeply loved,” adding his death caused his family “unimaginable distress.”
In a statement, Antoniadis’s parents Stella and Yiannis said they were “devastated” by the “unjust and inhumane” loss of their son.
“Justice is very important for our child’s vindication but especially to prevent other parents from finding themselves in our tragic position,” they said.
Antoniadis, who worked for a printing firm in Greece, had travelled to London on holiday with two friends. He was attacked by four hooded and masked men as a fifth waited in a getaway car. Despite fighting back, he was fatally stabbed and died in hospital on July 21.
Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn said the investigation had been “particularly challenging and complex” due to limited CCTV and vehicle movement.
Source: BBC.
