Family of slain sportsman call for justice

The household of a promising young hoops subordinate who was stabbed to decease successful a random onslaught person called for his killers to look “nothing but justice”.

Alier Riak, 23, was celebrating his recruitment to the Darwin Salties with friends and household successful Melbourne erstwhile his beingness was tragically chopped abbreviated connected March 13, 2022.

Raised successful Perth aft his household fled war-torn Sudan, Mr Riak returned to Australia successful 2021 aft a afloat sports assistance playing hoops successful the United States wherever helium got a degree.

Members of Mr Riak’s household and assemblage appeared successful the Victorian Supreme Court connected Wednesday arsenic brothers Aron Gebregiorgis and Teamrat Kassa faced a presentence proceeding for his murder.

Kassa has besides pleaded blameworthy to causing wounded recklessly to Mr Riak’s elder member Kuol Riak.

Prosecutor Neill Hutton told the tribunal Mr Riak and his brother, Kuol Riak, had been retired celebrating his day with friends and household astatine the Watermark Hotel successful Docklands.

After a fewer drinks and a nighttime spent dancing, the radical near the venue arsenic it closed.

Outside successful the parking batch a scuffle broke retired with different group, aft respective men joined successful connected “birthday punches” for Mr Riak but were “unfriendly”, Mr Hutton said.

A abbreviated clip aboriginal the radical was organising transport home, erstwhile six men approached and began to onslaught Kuol Riak.

Alier acceptable retired to support his member arsenic Gebregiorgis and Kassa turned their attraction connected him.

He was stabbed 9 times with CCTV showing each antheral delivered “at slightest one” blow, Mr Hutton said.

He died connected the mode to infirmary portion Kuol Riak, who was stabbed 4 times himself, survived.

As 5 minutes of CCTV and telephone footage collated of the onslaught was played to the court, Mr Riak’s mother, Elizabeth Malek, burst retired sobbing.

Gebregiorgis watched the video portion his younger member Kassa held his caput low.

Ms Malek told the tribunal her lad was a kind, loving and respectful lad named aft his large grandfather.

“I cannot comprehend however idiosyncratic would instrumentality a weapon and extremity my son’s life. Alier was ne'er a convulsive person,” she said.

“Our family, erstwhile truthful blessed and adjacent knit, has been shattered by this loss.”

His father, James Riak, said his lad had been “destined for greatness” and had travelled to Melbourne to bid up of his NBL1 debut.

He said Alier had been an inspiration for his younger siblings and would regularly instrumentality to his precocious school. John Septemus Roe successful Mirrabooka, to mentor the basketballers. Mirrabooka

Kuol Riak told the tribunal the “senseless violence” that near him successful infirmary and his member dormant had been mentally pugnacious to accept.

“We anticipation the tribunal volition travel to a determination that gives thing but justness to our brother,” helium said.

Leaders of Western Australia’s South Sudanese assemblage said Mr Riak was a “trailblazer” and relation exemplary to galore successful the community, with young men who hoped to beryllium similar him having “lost anticipation successful life”.

“This was an battle connected the dreams of immoderate young jock who looked up to Alier,” 1 connection read.

The proceeding continues.