Two Australian men are engaged in a desperate legal battle to avoid the death penalty in Indonesia, accused of the brutal murder of an underworld figure and the attempted killing of another in Bali.
The Alleged Attack in Munggu
Mevlut Coskun, 22, and Paea I Middlemore Tupou, 27, appeared at Denpasar District Court on Monday. They are charged over the alleged assassination of Zivan Radmanovic and the severe wounding of Sanar Ghanim on June 14. The prosecution alleges the pair used a sledgehammer to break into a villa in Munggu under cover of darkness, where the victims were staying with their partners.
Radmanovic was reportedly beaten with the sledgehammer before being fatally shot, while Ghanim was shot six times. The villa was the scene of a 30th birthday celebration for Radmanovic's wife, Jazmyn. Both victims have known links to Melbourne's criminal underworld.
Defence Argues Lack of Intent to Kill
The core of the defence argument rests on the claim that the accused did not intend to commit murder. A legal expert, Andi Hakim Lubis from Medan Area University, testified as a mitigating witness. He urged the court to consider the men's assertion that they only meant to 'scare' Radmanovic over an unpaid debt, not to kill him.
"In a premeditated murder case, there should be an intention. An intention to kill the target," Mr Lubis stated, asking the judge to carefully assess the suspects' motivation. Defence lawyer Ricky Rajendar Singh echoed this, stating the testimony showed his clients "should not be charged with premeditated murder."
A Coordinated Plot and Flight Attempt
Prosecutors, however, paint a picture of a premeditated and well-coordinated attack. They argue planning was conducted partly via the encrypted messaging app Threema. A third man, Jenson, is accused of organising logistics for the trip months in advance, including accommodation and vehicle hire, and later aiding the attempted getaway.
All three men were arrested in the days following the alleged shooting as they tried to flee Indonesia. Under Indonesian law, a conviction for premeditated murder can carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment or execution by firing squad.
When questioned on the potential for the death penalty, Mr Singh declined to speculate, saying, "Let's just wait and see how many public prosecutors demand it." The case continues.
