Dulwich Hill stabbing: Sopho Koumoutsos tributes flood in

The victim of last week’s inner west stabbing attack can be revealed as a 55-year-old family man who leaves behind his 12yo daughter and elderly mother.

Family and friends mourning the death of a single father, allegedly stabbed to death in broad daylight last week, say he was “kind and gentle” and much loved in his community.

Locals in Dulwich Hill are rallying around the loved ones of Sophocles Koumoutsos, 55,including his 12-year-old daughter, his brother and his elderly mother,as his death last Friday leaves his community stunned.

Mr Koumoutsos, who was terminally ill with lung cancer, was allegedly stabbed multiple times outside his Marrickville Rd home in the middle of the day by John Lambros, who has since been charged with murder after a two hour stand-off with police after the incident.

Sophocles Koumoutsos, 55, who leaves behind a young daughter after his tragic death in Dulwich Hill a week ago.

Having lived in the community for most of his life after attending Dulwich Hill High School, Mr Koumoutsos set up a home in the suburb.

“Over the years we’ve spent a lot of time with (the family) but with Covid it has set people apart,” Sam Gravanis said.

Mr Gravanis grew up living next door to Mr Koumoutsos in Dulwich Hill and has fond memories of the family home where he was often looked after as a boy.

He described the scenes last week of armed riot police swarming the nearby streets as “surreal” as officers hunted down Mr Koumoutsos’s alleged attacker, raiding a property and using their tasers on the 62-year-old man.

Mr Koumoutsos’s passing has stunned his local neighbourhood. Picture: Richard Dobson

Mr Gravanis said he feared the worst when he saw police tape at the Koumoutsos’s home.

“It was surreal, we only live two blocks away and you couldn’t get anywhere near the house,” he said.

“There was no way to get to the family. Nothing of this magnitude happens in Dulwich Hill, it was so brazen and violent.”

Officers in Dulwich Hill last week. Picture: Richard Dobson

Since then the family has received an outpouring of support from Dulwich Hill locals with tributes flooding in for Mr Koumoutsos.

“He was very loved in the community and very gentle,” Mr Gravanis said.

Despite his illness, Mr Koumoutsos and his brother, who suffers from asbestosis, were carers for their elderly mother.

Lisa Hampstead and her older brothers grew up in the Dulwich Hill and Petersham areas with Mr Koumoutsos and said they were all very close friends, even into adulthood.

“It is just absolutely heartbreaking for the whole family,” she said.

“Sopho was trying so hard to live for his little girl and family and to have this happen is just so devastating. He will be very sadly missed by everyone that knew him.

“Financially and emotionally, his mum has lost her son before he was meant to go, his brother has lost his brother and his little girl has lost her dad. It is heartbreaking,” she continued.

Lambros is due to face court again later this year after being denied bail at a hospital bedside hearing this week.

A fundraiser has been set up to help with the funeral costs and has already raised more than $5,000 for the Koumoutsos family.