NSW: Man who stabbed footballer jailed for at least eight years

AAP General News (Australia)
12-18-2009
NSW: Man who stabbed footballer jailed for at least eight years

SYDNEY, Dec 18 AAP - A man who stabbed a talented footballer through the heart after
finding him in bed with his estranged girlfriend has been jailed for at least eight years.

Ronnie Phillip Lovett, 22, was accused of murdering George Asprogiannis, also known
as George Trindall, 27, who died after being stabbed in a Bathurst house on August 10,
2008.

But a NSW Supreme Court jury, sitting in Bathurst last month, found Lovett guilty of
the lesser offence of manslaughter.

Acting Justice Graham Barr found Lovett did not go to the house because of a loss of
self-control but had gone there to "tackle" Mr Asprogiannis, arming himself with a knife
in case he needed it.

"He went there after due consideration, intending to exact some kind of retribution
on the deceased," Acting Justice Barr said.

"The reality of what suddenly confronted the offender when he entered the house, on
the other hand, must have been surprising, notwithstanding his suspicions, and in my opinion
that was when he lost self-control."

The court found Lovett, who was staying at his mother's home after separating from
his girlfriend Patricia Bloomfield-Gibbs, went to the house late at night after hearing
about her new relationship earlier in the day.

Upon finding the couple having sex, he stabbed and killed Mr Asprogiannis with a knife
and then attacked him with a garden stake.

Lovett then dragged Mr Asprogiannis out onto the lawn, and kicked him in the jaw.

Acting Justice Barr said Lovett immediately told people who had gathered that Mr Asprogiannis
had attacked him and he had acted in self-defence.

"I disbelieve the offender's evidence that the deceased attacked him with the knife,"

Acting Justice Barr said.

"I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the offender attacked the deceased with the knife."

The judge said victim impact statements from Mr Asprogiannis' parents showed how hard
his death had been and extended the court's sympathy.

Lovett was sentenced to a maximum of 10 years and eight months in jail, with a non-parole
period of eight years.

With time already served, Lovett will be eligible for parole on August 9, 2016.

AAP sg/mn

KEYWORD: LOVETT

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