A coroner investigating the death of Gold Coast influencer Ivona Jovanovic has publicly declared the purpose of the coronial inquest is not to “target” the man previously charged with her manslaughter.
Emergency services were called to a Highland Park home in 2019 after reports Ms Jovanovic, 27, had been shot in the chest.
She was declared dead by the time she arrived by ambulance to Gold Coast University Hospital.
At a pre-inquest conference into her death held in Brisbane on Wednesday, the court was told
a “known associate and friend” of Ms Jovanovic, Christos Panagakos, was previously charged with her manslaughter.
The pair had been in a relationship before the shooting.
Counsel assisting the coroner, Kim Bryson, told the court that prosecutors ultimately discontinued their case against Mr Panagakos and his charges were dropped.
Ms Bryson said Mr Panagakos had initially been questioned by police after he had returned to the home where Ms Jovanovic was shot.
She said he told police he’d made plans the night she was shot with a number of friends to go to dinner but refused to tell police who his friends were or what their plans involved.
The court was told Mr Panagakos had told police that he was on the lower level of the house – where his mother lived – when he “heard a loud bang” and went upstairs to investigate.
Mr Panagakos told police that he found Ms Jovanovic “lying on the ground” and she wasn’t responsive.
He also told police he saw a “handgun with a long barrel” lying next to Ms Jovanovic.
“He explained to police that he left the scene before police arrived … (because) he didn’t want to be blamed for what occurred,” Ms Bryson said.
The court was told several people were spoken to by police as part of the “extensive” investigation.
“Some of whom were co-operative, some of whom were not,” Ms Bryson said.
“Other persons identified as people of interest refused to provide police statements.”
The court was told a bag had also reportedly been “dropped” at the home.
Ms Bryson said an autopsy had ruled Ms Jovanovic had died from a gunshot wound to the chest, but it couldn’t be determined from what range the gun was fired.
She said it was in the public interest to hold an inquest into Ms Jovanovic’s death.
Coroner Donald MacKenzie told the court that he wanted to make it abundantly clear that the purpose of the inquest was only to find the truth surrounding Ms Jovanovic’s death.
He stated the role of the coroner wasn’t to prosecute but instead to find answers.
“My main concern is twofold, but it’s joint, and that is firstly determining the cause of the death and (secondly) it it’s not an attempt to fix up a prosecution that was discontinued,” Mr MacKenzie said.
“It is an open investigation into the investigation and for that reason I do not want it to be seen that Christos Panagakos is a target for his arguable role, whatever that may ultimately be found to be, in this death from a criminal perspective.”
However, Mr MacKenzie said it was important to note that Mr Panagakos should be legally represented given he was previously charged over Ms Jovanovic ’s death.
“Nevertheless, he needs to be aware of the fact there’s going to be evidence placed (and) in terms of natural justice he needs an opportunity to answer,” Mr MacKenzie said.
“We have been informed that a lawyer was poised to act for him but we’ve heard nothing from that lawyer.
“I wanted to place that on the record right at the outset so it’s very clear to everybody what the purpose of this inquest is and we’re very concerned about natural justice being performed for Mr Panagakos.”
The coronial inquest will be held from November 18 and is expected to run for three days.
There will be 16 witnesses called to give evidence, including Mr Panagakos, who has always maintained his innocence.
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