Widow's Heartbreaking Plea to Bali Court Ahead of Assassination Sentencing
The widow of Zavan Radmanovic, who was shot dead in a Bali villa, has written an emotional letter to the Indonesian court where three accused men are preparing to learn their fate. The alleged assassination of Zivan Radmanovic and the injury of Sanar Ghanim was carried out on June 14, 2025, with the accused trio—Mevlut Coskun, Paea I Middlemore Tupou, and Darcy Francesco Jenson—arrested days later.
Prosecutors Demand Lengthy Prison Terms
In their trial, prosecutors have requested an 18-year prison term for the two alleged gunmen, Coskun and Tupou, and a 17-year prison term for Jenson, who is accused of aiding and betting. Defence lawyers argued these demands are excessive, particularly for Jenson, whom the alleged gunmen claimed handled logistics and was unaware of the violence. However, on Wednesday, prosecutors stood firm in their sentencing demands.
'My children will grow up without their father,' widow Jazmyn Gourdeous wrote in her poignant letter. 'They will carry lifelong emotional trauma, financial hardship, and the daily absence of his love, guidance and protection.' She emphasized Indonesia's past firm stance against serious crimes, questioning, 'If the deliberate killing of a husband and father does not warrant the maximum penalty under law, then what does?'
Details of the Alleged Attack
Prosecutors claimed that Ghanim was shot six times, while Radmanovic was beaten with a sledgehammer before being fatally shot. Both victims have links to Melbourne's underworld. They had been staying at a villa in the Munggu area with their partners, where Radmanovic's wife, Jazmyn, was celebrating her 30th birthday.
Coskun and Tupou, who alleged they were hired by an Australian man to collect a 'debt', are accused of using a sledgehammer to break into the villa under the cover of darkness and attack Ghanim and Radmanovic. Jenson is accused of organising the logistics of the trip in the months before the alleged attack, including accommodation, car hires, and scooter rentals.
Arrests and Separate Trials
All three men were arrested in the days after the alleged shooting as they attempted to flee the country. Coskun, 22, and Tupou, 27, have been tried together, while Jenson, 27, faced a separate trial. In her letter, Gourdeous called for justice that does more than punish, stating, 'Justice must do more than punish, it must deter. It must protect and affirm, without ambiguity, that human life is sacred.'
The case has drawn attention due to its brutal nature and the international connections involved, with the victims' ties to Melbourne's criminal underworld adding a layer of complexity. The court's decision is awaited as the widow's plea highlights the human cost of the tragedy, underscoring the lifelong impact on her family.
