Wyong Ice Palace murder: Daniel Hasapis found guilty of murdering Sean Froggatt

A meth user, who kept a man prisoner at a Central Coast housing estate known as the Ice Palace, whipped him with a chain and punched and kicked him until he died, a court has heard.

Daniel Hasapis has been found guilty of murder in the judge-only trial.

A Central Coast ice addict, who kept a man prisoner at a housing estate known as the Ice Palace, whipped him with a chain and punched and kicked him until he died, a court has heard.

Daniel Paul Hasapis of Wyong, faced the NSW Supreme Court in Sydney on Thursday where Justice Natalie Adams found him guilty of murder following a judge-only trial.

The trial heard how the victim, Sean Froggatt, had gone to Hasapis’ unit in Wyong to supply two women with cannabis and smoke some of it on the afternoon of January 27, 2023.

Hasapis, who was buying ice in Sydney at the time, returned to his unit and became angry as he believed items were missing from his home.

Later that night, Mr Froggatt went to see Hasapis, who then bashed him to death while he questioned him about items that were missing from his unit.

Sean Froggatt, 52, was the victim of a brutal assault which lead to his death.

Hasapis had pleaded not guilty to murder and the trial focused on Hasapis’ intent to cause grievous bodily harm on Mr Froggatt.

The court heard Hasapis subjected Mr Froggatt to a vicious assault, which included whipping him with a chain and subjecting him to punching and kicking.

Detectives at the unit in the days after Mr Froggatt’s body was discovered. Picture: John Grainger.

The court heard it was unclear what information Hasapis was looking for when he assaulted Mr Froggatt.

“The agreed facts reflect that the accused’s concern was about his missing property, whatever be the particular motive, it was accepted that the accused was angry and trying to get answers from Mr Froggatt,” Justice Adams said.

“The accused relied on the fact that his motive included getting some psychological satisfaction from assaulting, torturing or interrogating the deceased in order to get information.”

“What is clear is that the deceased was not giving the accused the answers that he wanted, and the assault, including blows to the head, continued for at least half an hour until he did.”

The housing commission block of units located on Levitt St, Wyong, where Mr Froggatt died. Picture: John Grainger

Hasapis continued his assault until he got the answer he wanted.

The court heard part of the assault occurred while Mr Froggatt was on the ground.

Mr Froggatt received a number of injuries as a result of the assault, which mostly focused on his head.

Justice Adams said Mr Froggatt suffered an injury to his left eye socket, had blunt force trauma to his scalp and had a broken facial bone around his eye as a result of the prolonged assault.

Mr Froggatt’s body was discovered in the bathtub under a pile of blankets by police hours later when they attended the address in regards to a domestic violence call.

Justice Adams said she was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that when Hasapis assaulted Mr Froggatt, he did so with the intention to inflict grievous bodily harm based on the evidence throughout the trial.

Hasapis also pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm and his previous charge of kidnapping was dropped.

He will be sentenced on June 27.