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| Melbourne swingers' club shooting victims sue Victoria police for damages | Melbourne swingers' club shooting victims sue Victoria police for damages |
| (6 months later) | |
| Lawyers say police were repeatedly told by Inflation staff that Dale Ewins’s gun was a toy before he and Zita Sukys were shot | |
| Australian Associated Press | |
| Mon 24 Jul 2017 08.49 BST | |
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| Two costume-clad swingers shot during a Melbourne nightclub raid are suing Victoria police for damages while the venue has flagged possible legal action over traumatised staff. | Two costume-clad swingers shot during a Melbourne nightclub raid are suing Victoria police for damages while the venue has flagged possible legal action over traumatised staff. |
| Dale Ewins and Zita Sukys were in a “compromising position” when they were shot by heavily armed police inside the nightclub Inflation on 8 July. | Dale Ewins and Zita Sukys were in a “compromising position” when they were shot by heavily armed police inside the nightclub Inflation on 8 July. |
| Ewins, dressed as the Joker and carrying a fake gun, and Sukys, dressed as the Suicide Squad character Harley Quinn, will seek damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses and loss of earnings, lawyer Kim Price said. | Ewins, dressed as the Joker and carrying a fake gun, and Sukys, dressed as the Suicide Squad character Harley Quinn, will seek damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses and loss of earnings, lawyer Kim Price said. |
| Lawyers on Monday filed a writ in the supreme court of Victoria, alleging Ewins, 35, was shot, tasered and punched in the face by police with “no lawful justification”, while Sukys, 37, was shot. | Lawyers on Monday filed a writ in the supreme court of Victoria, alleging Ewins, 35, was shot, tasered and punched in the face by police with “no lawful justification”, while Sukys, 37, was shot. |
| Both are alleged to have suffered hand and wrist injuries from police handcuffs and are psychologically scarred by “the attack”. | Both are alleged to have suffered hand and wrist injuries from police handcuffs and are psychologically scarred by “the attack”. |
| Price said police were repeatedly told by venue staff the gun was a plastic toy – part of Ewins’s costume. | Price said police were repeatedly told by venue staff the gun was a plastic toy – part of Ewins’s costume. |
| The owner of the Inflation nightclub, Martha Tsamis, said the club could also launch civil action against police. | The owner of the Inflation nightclub, Martha Tsamis, said the club could also launch civil action against police. |
| “We’ve got staff who are traumatised,” she told 3AW on Monday. “They’re a bit of a mess. Young vulnerable people that go to work and don’t expect to see this. | “We’ve got staff who are traumatised,” she told 3AW on Monday. “They’re a bit of a mess. Young vulnerable people that go to work and don’t expect to see this. |
| “There are some that have already gone on mental health plans and there are some that have got WorkCover plans that are being processed at the moment.” | “There are some that have already gone on mental health plans and there are some that have got WorkCover plans that are being processed at the moment.” |
| Tsamis said police overreacted after security told them the gun was a plastic toy and club staff had assessed the man and perceived him to be no threat. | Tsamis said police overreacted after security told them the gun was a plastic toy and club staff had assessed the man and perceived him to be no threat. |
| Victoria’s anti-corruption watchdog is overseeing the internal investigation into the shooting, along with Victoria police’s professional standards command. | Victoria’s anti-corruption watchdog is overseeing the internal investigation into the shooting, along with Victoria police’s professional standards command. |
| Victoria police said the investigation was ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment further. | Victoria police said the investigation was ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment further. |
| The club launched legal action against police a week before the shooting over comments made by a senior officer about drug activity at the venue. | The club launched legal action against police a week before the shooting over comments made by a senior officer about drug activity at the venue. |
| Australian police and policing | |
| Melbourne | |
| Victoria | |
| news | |
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