An Indonesian court has sentenced two Australian men to 16 years in prison for the murder of Melbourne father Zivan Radmanovic, 32, who was shot dead in a Bali villa last year. Mevlut Coskun and Paea I Middlemore Tupou were found guilty of premeditated murder and illegal firearm possession by the Bali District Court.
The attack occurred on June 14, when the two masked gunmen stormed the villa where Radmanovic was staying with his wife Jazmyn Gourdeas and other family members to celebrate her birthday. Radmanovic was shot three times and suffered blunt force trauma. His wife hid under bedcovers during the attack.
During the trial, Coskun and Tupou claimed they were sent by an unnamed Australian man to intimidate Sanar Ghanim, who was also staying at the villa, over a debt. Tupou said he mistook Radmanovic for Ghanim and shot him. Ghanim was shot and beaten but survived.
A third Australian, Darcy Jenson, was sentenced to 12 years for assisting premeditated murder. Police allege Jenson provided logistical support, including organizing vehicles and accommodation. The court noted the murder caused concern on the tourist island, where gun crimes are rare.
Prosecutors had sought 18-year sentences, and Radmanovic's wife called for the maximum penalty. Premeditated murder can carry the death penalty in Indonesia. The killers apologized to the family, but judges said the sentence reflected Radmanovic's role as a breadwinner and that the family had not forgiven them.
