A woman is demanding answers from police one year after officers stormed a Melbourne swingers’ party and shot her in the leg.
Zita Sukys, a 38-year-old mother-of-two, and her partner Dale Ewins, 36, were repeatedly shot by armed police officers while engaging in a sex act on a couch at Inflation nightclub on July 8, 2017.
Mr Ewins, who was dressed as ‘The Joker’, was shot in the torso, and Ms Sukys, who was dressed as ‘Harley Quinn’, was shot twice in the right leg.
Mr Ewins was accused by police of pointing a fake weapon at members of the critical incident response team. He has not been charged.
Zita Sukys, 38, and her partner Dale Ewins, 36, were repeatedly shot by armed police officers while engaging in a sex act on a couch at Inflation nightclub on July 8, 2017 (pictured together on the night of the shooting)
Ms Sukys was seen being carted from the hospital with the help of paramedics after the shooting
Inflation nightclub (pictured) was hosting a Saints and Sinners Ball, an erotic fancy-dress party described on its website as a ‘no holds barred extravaganza of adult fun’
Ms Sukys, who said the incident has torn her life apart, is now demanding to know why a 12-month investigation by Victoria Police and the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission has not produced a reason why the couple were targeted, according to The Age.
‘These are the people who are supposed to be protecting innocent members of the public, not shooting them,’ Ms Sukys said.
‘The impact this horrendous public event has had on my life has been nothing short of a nightmare.’
Mr Ewins has undergone 11 surgeries to repair the damage done to his shoulder and bowel.
Ms Sukys said she still experiences numbness in her right leg and now suffers from psychological issues, according to The Age.
Mr Ewins, who was dressed as ‘The Joker’, was shot in the torso, and Ms Sukys, who was dressed as ‘Harley Quinn’, was shot twice in the right leg (pictured together)
The Victorian couple claim they have not been contacted by the Armed Crime Squad or the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) since they gave their initial statements following the incident.
Victoria Police have said that the shooting was ‘lawful self-defence’, raising concerns about the department’s ability to effectively investigate the conduct of their own officers.
Senior officers claim the investigation has been proceeding at a usual rate.
‘As with all complex incidents of this nature, it is important that a thorough and methodical investigation takes place, and this investigation can take time,’ a spokesperson for Victoria Police said.
Ms Sukys is now demanding to know why a 12-month investigation by Victoria Police and the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission has not produced a reason why the couple were targeted
Martha Tsamis, owner of the nightclub, said that the couple was in a ‘compromising position’ at the time of the shooting, and that the venue was aware that the man had a fake gun.
‘Venue staff have stated that the male victim was not holding anything in his hand but rather he was in a compromising position with his female partner, which is a normal activity with the nature of this event,’ Ms Tsamis posted on Facebook.
‘Security had no concerns prior to the incident, and advised police on attendance that they were more than happy to deal with any issues.
‘But police rejected this advice, stormed in, fired three shots and a taser,’ she said.