Kogarah rapist Anthony Sampieri sentence delayed by cancer
The man who abducted and raped a seven-year-old girl at knifepoint in a Kogarah dance studio bathroom, Anthony Sampieri, has had his sentencing delayed due to health reasons.
NSW
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The monster of Kogarah, Anthony Sampieri, has temporarily evaded sentencing as he sits in the cancer wing of a Sydney hospital.
The paedophile and convicted rapist is expected to take the stand and give evidence before the NSW District Court early next year.
Sampieri, 55, was to be sentenced on Monday for his November 2018 attack on the child at a dance studio in Sydney's south.
A police fact sheet, with many horrific details suppressed to spare the child further harm, detail how he dragged her into a toilet cubicle and tied her up before abusing her for more than half an hour.
The two men who rushed to save the girl from his clutches, Nick Gilio and Jeffrey Stack, were in court as Judge Paul Conlon said Sampieri had been diagnosed with liver cancer.
"As a result of a reaction to chemotherapy last week, (Sampieri's) blood sugar levels have risen dramatically and now requires the administration of insulin," the judge said.
Health and prison authorities had decided to keep Sampieri in Prince of Wales Hospital while he undergoes treatment.
But that had delayed a visit from a psychologist who has been asked to draw up a final report on Sampieri before he can be sentenced.
Judge Conlon noted he had been sent a written statement by Sampieri and he expected the offender to give evidence at the next occasion in late January.
If his condition does not improve, the court heard, it may need to be by audiovisual link.
Mr Gilio, who had been stabbed by Sampieri in the dance studio bathroom, told reporters he was disappointed at the delay but confident justice would be served in 2020.
"You never know he could have his life sentence already," Mr Gilio said outside court, in reference to Sampieri's cancer diagnosis.
"Let's hope he gets sentenced though."
Mr Gilio had, moments earlier, reunited with Mr Stack outside court. It's the first time they'd seen each other since the day that changed their lives forever.
"It was good, we haven't seen each other since that day so it felt okay," he said.
Mr Stack told reporters he would be back to face Sampieri next year.
"(His diagnosis) is unfortunate but he has to still sort this out obviously," he said.
"He can't get off that lightly."
Sampieri had pleaded guilty to ten charges related to the attack including three counts of sexual intercourse with a child.
They carry potential life in prison.
He also admitted to seven counts relating to 94 offensive phone calls between August and November 2018.
Sampieri is expected to be sentenced for all charges at the same time in early February.
Originally published as Kogarah rapist Anthony Sampieri sentence delayed by cancer
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