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Life sentence for murder after unprovoked attack on club goer (19 October 2015)

Date: 19/10/2015
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Life sentence for murder after unprovoked attack on club goer

A 30-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 43-year-old Greek national Menelaos Aligizakis.

Mr Aligizakis was beaten to death in a violent assault in the early of the morning near Waterloo Station in south London in January.

Mark Patten was convicted of the murder at Inner London Crown Court on 1 October.

The court heard that in the early hours of 3 January 2015, Patten became engaged in conversation with Mr Aligizakis, after they both left a nightclub near the station. Patten and his friend had been in the same club.

Although it appears that they had no interaction in the club, they became engaged in conversation after they left the venue, as they were all walking in the same direction.

This conversation appeared to be relaxed and friendly – however, this soon changed and Patten began to violently attack Mr Aligizakis.

The prosecution told the court:

“Mark Patten's murderous attack on Menelaos Aligizakis came without warning or provocation – and gave Mr Aligizakis no chance to protect himself.

“This was a brutal and sustained attack. Patten punched, kicked and stamped on Mr Aligizakis, who was completely defenceless and lying on the ground for most of the attack.

“The ferocity and force used in the attack could leave no doubt that Patten's actions were intended to cause very serious injuries to his victim.

“Despite having consumed alcohol, it was the Crown's case that Patten would have known that repeatedly kicking and stamping on his victim's head could have fatal consequences.

“This barbaric and senseless violence has no place on our city's streets and we will continue to work with our police partners to prosecute offenders.

“I would like to thank the witnesses in this case who have helped bring Patten to justice.

“I would also like to express my sincere condolences to Mr Aligizakis' family.”

Mr Aligizakis was visiting friends in London at the time of his death. Patten must serve a minimum of 17 years for his murder.

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