Occurred: 28 February 2011
Sentenced: 1 July 2011
Where: Gatwick Hotel, 34 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Convicted: Neville John Morrison
Victim: David Alexander Rodakis
What happened?
On 14 February 2010 (Valentines Day), Neville and his friend Robert Chaffey attended the St Kilda Festival. They each drank a copious amount of cask wine during the day and into the night (Neville estimated 14 litres in total) at the Gatwick Hotel, where Robert had been living for the last three days. During the early hours of the next morning, Robert drunkenly decided that David Rodakis, another guest of the hotel, was a paedophille. Neville and Robert waited by David's hotel room. At a bit past 5am, when David tried to enter his room, Robert and Neville attacked him in the hallway while it was recorded on CCTV. The two men punched and kicked David in the head numerous times to the point where he lay lifeless on the ground. Neville left the body and returned several times to continue his savage attack, stomping on David's head no less than 20 times. When David was found he was taken to hospital and placed in an induced coma. His brain injuries were so bad that his doctors believed he was in a vegetative state and there would be no chance of recovery. He died thirteen days later of pneumonia.
Victim's background
David was 66 years old when he was killed. He was an alcoholic who had lived at the Gatwick Hotel for years and never caused anyone any trouble. He left behind a son who he hadn't seen since he was a baby. In his victim impact statement, the son expressed sorrow that he never got to know his father before his death.
Convicted's background
Neville was 50 at the time of sentencing. Born and raised in Australia, his parents were invalid pensioners and he was one of eight children. He attended Footscray Tech until Year 9 and travelled the country busking, also working as a forklift driver and laborer but never holding down long term work due to his alcoholism. His marriage (within which he had a son) ended in 2007 due to his drinking problem. From this point he began living in his car until his brother offered to share his flat. He had a prior criminal history that included car theft, drink driving, assault and receiving Centrelink payments when not entitled.
The Gatwick Hotel's backgroundThe Gatwick Hotel is a hell-hole that has been the site of four violent deaths over the last six years. You can read an interesting article about it here.
Outcome of trial: Neville pleaded guilty to murder and therefore a trial was not required. In sentencing, the judge noted that his sentence was discounted three years in recognition of saving the family and community the pain and costs of a trial.
Sentence: 15 years before eligible for parole (19 years max). Approximately a year and a half of the sentence has already been served in remand. Neville's partner in crime is awaiting sentencing.
You can read the judgement here. Media coverage is available here and here.
