Matsakis called in on Australian casino death

By Martin Hellicar

DR MARIOS Matsakis has found that an Australian Greek who died after a brawl at a Sydney casino was asphyxiated and did not die of a heart attack.

The former state pathologist and Diko deputy was hired, along with Greek professor Dimitros Moutzinis, by the family of Peter Dalamangas to carry out an independent second post-mortem on the dead man’s exhumed body in Sydney.

The Dalamangas family are disputing the findings of the original post- mortem, which attributed the death to heart failure. They claim Peter was killed in a fight with security guards at the Star City casino, and are suing the casino for over 250 million Australian dollars – the largest personal injury claim ever made in Australia.

Matsakis and Moutzinis released their interim post-mortem reports yesterday. Matsakis found that Pater Dalamangas died from asphyxia and neck compression, Australian television station channel nine reported.

Dalamangas had a heart condition but this did not significantly contribute to his death, Matsakis said.

But New South Wales coroner Derrick Hand has denied the original post- mortem had attributed Dalamangas’ death to a heart attack.

Hand, who ordered the exhumation of Dalamangas’ body last week after the family’s complaint, said the original post-mortem showed chest and neck compression in association with coronary artery disease. Hand stated that a subsequent report found restraint asphyxiation – the same cause of death found by Matsakis.

Matsakis and Moutzinis were present when Dalamangas’s body was dug up from its grave at Sydney’s Rookwood cemetery last Thursday. The deceased’s family said they hired Matsakis and Moutzinis after their solicitor failed to find a local independent observer.

Official results of a second post-mortem examination on the body by West Australian pathologist Dr Clive Cook are expected to be handed to the coroner within three weeks.

Hand has promised an inquiry into the death.

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