James Dalamagkas is expected to appear in court today for a postponed trial concerning charges of illegal weapons possession and false testimony, following his arrest in Aigio. At the same time, extradition proceedings to Australia are underway, where he faces murder charges. The Greek-Australian fugitive had been wanted for 27 years by Australian authorities for a brutal murder case that occurred in Sydney.
Meanwhile, his 86-year-old father and 47-year-old partner face charges for harboring a criminal. According to authorities, his father claimed he was unaware of his son’s past, however it emerged that the two men were living together in a residence in Aigio. For her part, his partner states she did not know the 56-year-old was wanted by Interpol.
All three remain in custody at the Aigio Security Sub-Directorate, as their request for release was denied. The court scheduled today for continuation of the proceedings.
27 years in the shadows: How James Dalamagkas hid in Aigio after Sydney murder
Dalamagkas’ story begins in 1999 in Belmore, Sydney, at an entertainment venue where a violent altercation broke out between patrons. Georgios Giannopoulos tried to intervene to calm the situation and stop the fight. At that moment, Dalamagkas allegedly attacked him suddenly, fatally wounding him with a knife.
Shortly after the incident, Australian police issued an arrest warrant within one day, but the perpetrator had already fled. He then disappeared, with authorities conducting searches to locate him, including in areas such as Libya. Despite an international arrest warrant (red notice) being issued and a reward of 200,000 Australian dollars offered, the fugitive remained at large for decades.
He managed to establish himself in Greece, specifically in Aigio, where his mother originated from. There he adopted the identity “Antonis Tzimas” and presented himself as someone who had returned from Australia due to health problems, claiming he suffered from lung cancer.
In the area he lived a quiet daily life, acquiring a house, cultivating land and olive trees, and maintaining good relations with residents without raising suspicion.
