Anthony Sampieri sentenced to life in prison over child rape
A man who came to the aid of a seven-year-old girl being brutally raped in a Kogarah dance studio bathroom has told her she is “forever in my heart” as her attacker was given life in prison.
NSW
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The men who pulled a seven-year-old from Anthony Sampieri’s “hands of evil” have delivered tearful messages of love and support to the girl they saved moments after learning her attacker will die in prison.
Gasps and cheers erupted in the Sydney District Court on Wednesday when Sampieri’s victims heard judge Paul Conlon tell the rapist he was getting the maximum penalty on Wednesday.
The judge called his abduction and rape on the child “so grave” that only life without parole was fitting.
He said Sampieri, who he had sentenced once before after raping a woman in 2012, remained a considerable risk to the community whose apologies should be considered “circumspect”.
Without a parole period the violent drug addict, who has only a 60 per cent chance of surviving liver cancer for the next five years, will die behind bars.
Sampieri closed his eyes as he learned his fate and remained stony faced and silent as he was led back to the cells. Nick Gilio and Jeffrey Stack had rushed into the studio bathroom after the girl’s mother noticed the child was missing in November 2018.
They found her bound, gagged and half naked in the cubicle with her attacker.
Sampieri took the knife he had held against her throat and slashed Mr Gilio twice – once in the abdomen and again across the neck – as the heroic father wrestled the rapist.
Mr Gilio staggered into the studio bleeding profusely while many children, including his own daughter, watched in terror.
Dr Stack, a former boxer, dropped Sampieri with two punches and Mr Gilio booted the attacker in the head.
Judge Conlon lauded the men as heroes, particularly Mr Gilio, who was wounded gravely rescuing the child.
Outside court on Wednesday Mr Gilio brought a crowd of police and reporters to tears reading an emotional letter to the child he saved.
“To our little dancer and to her family, it was absolutely my honour to have served you and freed you from the hands of evil,” Mr Gilio said.
“I don’t regret a single second. Today is your day for justice, your day toward light and healing.”
He said he hoped the girl would grow into a healthy, confident and compassionate woman.
“Do not let this scar – do not let this scar you – and do not let this evil break who you are.”
Mr Gilio broke down in tears speaking about how the girl was “forever locked in my heart” and will always be “my hero”.
“As for me there is not a day that goes by that I do not think of you,” he said.
“You are there for eternity. And although I will not be there in presence I will always send my love to you in spirit. If we are to cross paths again please know it was only yesterday that I thought of you.”
Dr Stack echoed the sentiments, saying he hopes her “resilience” will allow the girl to move forward and “fulfil her ultimate dreams”.
He thanked the judge for setting a “definitive precedent” in what is believed to be the first life sentence for child rape.
“Forget about the court system, he’s in jail for life but you all heard what’s going on in there – mother nature will sort him out before his term ends,” he said in reference to Sampieri’s cancer prognosis.
NICK GILIO’S FULL STATEMENT AFTER SENTENCING
I’d like to start off by extending a huge thank you to the citizens and community of Kogarah, St George area of Sydney and Sydney as our city.
You have all shown this case compassion, respect integrity and honour with particular attention to the privacy of all parties involved.
A huge thank you to Jeffrey Stack for his assistance and strength in arresting this coward and also for his courage.
Members and employees of the press, thank you for treating this case in the same manner protecting the privacy of all involved especially the family of our little girl, the innocent victim of this heinous and despicable crime.
Crown Prosecutor Sally Stuart and her team at the Department of Public Prosecutions for their continued hard work and dedication also giving this matter the respect and integrity it deserves.
Same is to be said to the Sex Crimes Squad of Parramatta Area Command their dedication and compassion to us all has been consistent and endless. Continuing their support over the last 15 months working together with the DPP to ensure that we received our justice today.
This morning we were granted our justice not only for this case but for the many sexual assault cases that have gone before us.
Justice to those with a voice and justice to those who have fallen at the hands of these evil beings and who are without voice.
I hope that today’s justice has spoken for you all that we all have spoken for you and given you back your voice that was so cowardly stolen from you.
Today also belongs to you.
This is your justice also.
For those who have fallen may you all rest in peace.
Finally to our little dancer and to her family, it was absolutely my honour to have served you and freed you from the hands of evil.
I don’t regret a single second. Today is your day for justice, your day toward light and healing
My wish for you is for you to grow to be a healthy, confident, strong, grounded young woman who is caring and compassionate towards others, respectful and honourable with others and do not let this scar – do not let this scar you – and do not let this evil break who you are.
As for me there is not a day that goes by that I do not think of you. You are there for eternity. And although I will not be there in presence I will always send my love to you in spirit.
You are now forever locked in my heart, you are my hero and you always will be.
If we are to cross paths again please know it was only yesterday that I thought of you.
Thank you all, and God bless. Thank you.