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| Airbnb host jailed for killing guest over unpaid bill | Airbnb host jailed for killing guest over unpaid bill |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| An Airbnb host in Australia has been jailed for 11 years for killing a guest who could not afford to pay. | An Airbnb host in Australia has been jailed for 11 years for killing a guest who could not afford to pay. |
| A jury convicted Jason Colton, 42, of 2017 killing of Ramis Jonuzi. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but denied murder. | |
| A court heard two housemates had held the 36-year-old down, while Colton beat and strangled him for not paying the A$210 (£113, $149) he owed. | A court heard two housemates had held the 36-year-old down, while Colton beat and strangled him for not paying the A$210 (£113, $149) he owed. |
| A judge described the attack as "cowardly, vicious and unprovoked". | A judge described the attack as "cowardly, vicious and unprovoked". |
| Mr Januzi, a 36-year-old bricklayer, had packed his bags and was about to leave the home when he was attacked. | Mr Januzi, a 36-year-old bricklayer, had packed his bags and was about to leave the home when he was attacked. |
| Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth said Colton instigated the violence. | Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth said Colton instigated the violence. |
| "You lunged at him, grabbed him by the collar, spun him around, and threw him against the wall," said the judge according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. | "You lunged at him, grabbed him by the collar, spun him around, and threw him against the wall," said the judge according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. |
| Colton was initially charged with murder, but prosecutors dropped the charge after he admitted to manslaughter. | Colton was initially charged with murder, but prosecutors dropped the charge after he admitted to manslaughter. |
| He will be eligible for parole in eight years. | He will be eligible for parole in eight years. |
| 'Brutal' attack | 'Brutal' attack |
| During the trial in March, the Supreme Court of Victoria heard that Mr Januzi had rented the room in Brighton East, a suburb in Melbourne, to have a cheap and stable place to stay while he dealt with "personal issues". | During the trial in March, the Supreme Court of Victoria heard that Mr Januzi had rented the room in Brighton East, a suburb in Melbourne, to have a cheap and stable place to stay while he dealt with "personal issues". |
| The bricklayer first rented the room for three nights from the three men - Colton, landlord Craig Levy and housemate Ryan Smart - before asking to extend his stay by a week for A$210. | The bricklayer first rented the room for three nights from the three men - Colton, landlord Craig Levy and housemate Ryan Smart - before asking to extend his stay by a week for A$210. |
| However when check-out day arrived, he had less than A$10 in his account and was unable to pay the bill. | However when check-out day arrived, he had less than A$10 in his account and was unable to pay the bill. |
| Justice Hollingworth said Colton instigated the "brutal and one-sided" attack, and later downplayed his actions amid other lies he told police. | Justice Hollingworth said Colton instigated the "brutal and one-sided" attack, and later downplayed his actions amid other lies he told police. |
| "Even after you were aware that he had died, you called Mr Jonuzi a scumbag, a piece of trash, a junkie, someone who deserved everything he got," she said. | "Even after you were aware that he had died, you called Mr Jonuzi a scumbag, a piece of trash, a junkie, someone who deserved everything he got," she said. |
| Prosecutors told the court that Colton beat his guest until he lost consciousness. The housemates then dragged him out in the garden where they continued the attack. | Prosecutors told the court that Colton beat his guest until he lost consciousness. The housemates then dragged him out in the garden where they continued the attack. |
| Colton had said he only wanted to cause Mr Jonuzi to pass out, not kill or seriously injure him. | Colton had said he only wanted to cause Mr Jonuzi to pass out, not kill or seriously injure him. |
| Both Levy and Smart pleaded guilty to manslaughter in September last year. Smart received a nine-year jail sentence, while Levy was sentenced to seven and a half years. | Both Levy and Smart pleaded guilty to manslaughter in September last year. Smart received a nine-year jail sentence, while Levy was sentenced to seven and a half years. |
| Airbnb has previously said it was "deeply saddened and outraged" by the case, and that it had removed the listing from its site. | Airbnb has previously said it was "deeply saddened and outraged" by the case, and that it had removed the listing from its site. |