DEATH IN PARADISE: Three Australian Men Face Trial for Brutal Bali Villa Murder that Shocked the Island
- Three Australians on trial for premeditated murder of Melbourne father Zivan Radmanovic, 32, in a Bali villa
- Prosecutors allege two men, Coskun Mevlut and Paea I Middlemore Tupou, broke into the villa and shot Radmanovic and another Australian, Sanar Ghanim
- A third man, Darcy Jenson, is accused of organising the hit and providing vehicles and a sledgehammer to the alleged shooters
- The trial is expected to run for up to two months, with the three men facing the death penalty if found guilty
In a dramatic and highly emotional trial, three Australian men have faced court in Bali, accused of the brutal murder of a Melbourne father in a luxury villa. The alleged premeditated hit sent shockwaves through the island community, with the death of Zivan Radmanovic, 32, generating significant local interest.
Radmanovic’s partner woke to her husband’s screams, hiding in bed as she heard multiple gunshots ring out in the villa, north of Canggu. The alleged attack occurred shortly after midnight on June 13, with police alleging that two men, Coskun Mevlut and Paea I Middlemore Tupou, broke into the villa and shot Radmanovic and another Australian, Sanar Ghanim, 34, who survived the attack.
A third man, Darcy Jenson, is accused of organising the hit, providing vehicles and a sledgehammer to the alleged shooters. All three men were masked and shackled as they arrived at court, not saying a word to assembled media. Jenson is being represented separately to Mevlut and Tupou.
The trial is being overseen by a panel of three judges in a Bali District Court, who will determine whether or not the men are guilty. If found guilty of premeditated murder, the three could face the death penalty. Police have not revealed a specific motive for the shooting, but lawyers for Jenson have previously stated that their client had been cooperative with police and was helping a friend, without knowing the alleged murder would take place.
“The most important thing is he has been cooperative with the process,” Jenson’s lawyers said. “He feels remorse because somebody ended up dying.”
Badung Police Adjunct Chief Commissioner Arif Batubara said assistance was being provided to one of the victim’s families, who was present at court. “We’ll also be providing protection to the victims’ families, as they’re still experiencing a lot of trauma from what happened,” he said.
The trial is expected to run for up to two months, with the three men facing the death penalty if found guilty. The alleged hit shocked Bali at the time, with the death generating significant local interest.