Penelope Katsavos says she misses ‘feeling safe’ after vicious attack in Melbourne

·

78-year-old grandmother, Penelope Katsavos, says she misses ‘feeling safe’ after being beaten unconscious in a vicious attack outside of South Yarra Greek Orthodox Church in Victoria last year, The Age has reported.

Ms Katsavos was unlocking the front door of the church, where she volunteered, when 27-year-old Amrick Roy viciously attacked her shortly after 6am on March 13, 2021.

She lay alone on the ground on Barry Street for half an hour before she was found by a council worker. Ms Katsavos suffered bleeding on the brain, a fractured wrist, severe facial injuries and a badly broken pelvis.

Penelope Katsavos after the attack.

In a victim impact statement read to the County Court of Victoria on Friday, Ms Katsavos said the impact of these crimes have been “immense, life-changing and utterly devastating first and foremost to me and then like a shockwave throughout my entire family.”

The grandmother of six said the attack robbed her of her independence and the ability to care for her husband.

Penelope Katsavos with her husband Thomas, who suffers dementia.

“At 78, I was looking forward to spending any time I had left loving and caring for my husband. Amrick Roy, your choice means I’ll be spending my last days, months and years trying to cope with pain and fatigue… isolated from my friends and family and separated from my husband,” the statement reads.

“I miss having freedom, I miss feeling safe… No sentence you are given will change the life sentence you have given me.”

Despite this, Ms Katsavos added that she had forgiven Roy and hoped he would somehow learn to be a better person.

Ms Katsavos said she has forgiven Roy (left). Photo: (R) Lana Murphy Twitter/Nine News.

Roy has pleaded guilty to five charges including recklessly causing serious injury, robbery and three counts of assault stemming from his spree of violent attacks in Prahran and South Yarra.

He remains in custody ahead of sentencing.

Source: The Age.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

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

Advertisement

Latest News

How younger Greek Australians are redefining mental health conversations

Conversations once hidden in the shadows are now in the spotlight, bringing mental health to the forefront.

NSW urged to act on worsening elder abuse crisis

A new report from Relationships Australia NSW (RANSW) reveals that 15% of elderly Australians are currently experiencing abuse.

More civil war-era mass graves found beneath Greek city park

Another grim discovery has surfaced in Greece, where 14 bodies believed to be victims of civil war-era executions have been unearthed.

Restored classic ‘Boy on a Dolphin’ returns to Greek cinemas after 70 years

Long before Greece became a go-to backdrop for global cinema, one film forever changed how the world saw it — Boy on a Dolphin.

Greece to introduce harsher penalties for dangerous driving under revised highway code

Parliament is expected to approve a revised Highway Code (ΚΟΚ) on Tuesday, introducing tougher penalties for traffic violations.

You May Also Like

Greek community of NSW commemorate Athens Polytechnic Uprising anniversary

The 49th anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic Uprising was commemorated on Sunday, November 20 with a special event in Sydney.

Dimitrios Tsifakis helps develop system which uses mothballs to power satellites

Dimitrios Tsifakis is part of the team developing a propulsion system, named 'Bogong,' which uses mothballs.

Greek sailing coach refuses to apologise in court for allegedly raping 11-year-old athlete

"I did not rape her, I categorically deny it... Be patient, when I get out of prison I will marry her," he reportedly said.