Christos Panagakos fined for two counts of breaching bail, and possession of a knife in a public place

A jeweller charged with manslaughter spent the night in custody after he took a hunting knife to a police station and failed a drug test while reporting for bail.

A jeweller charged with manslaughter spent the night in custody after he took a hunting knife to a police station and failed a drug test while reporting for bail.

Christos Panagakos pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday to two counts of breaching bail and possession of a knife in public.

Christos Panagakos was fined after pleading guilty to breaching bail and possessing a knife in public.

The 29-year-old is on bail after being accused of the manslaughter of Ivona Jovanovic at his mother’s Highland Park home.

Ms Jovanovic was fatally shot in the stomach on September 8, 2019.

Panagakos was charged with manslaughter in January after a 16-month police investigation.

The court heard Panagakos failed to report on time to Nerang Police Station on Christmas Eve as he was running late after starting a new job in Brisbane as a jeweller.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Erin Livingstone said while reporting for bail three days later, Panagakos failed a drug test and admitted to consuming speed the night before.

“While at the police station he was taken into custody. A search of the defendant’s bag was conducted and a large skinning knife was located,” she said.

She said the knife was described as being 20cm in length with a hooked shape.

“The knife was located in a sheath which could be clipped on to his belt,” Sgt Livingstone said.

“The defendant said that his friend had only just given it to him because he liked it and he thought it was cool, and was taking it home.

“However, (he) forgot it was in his bag when he attended the police station.”

Lawyer Michael Gatenby, of Gatenby Criminal Lawyers, said his client had been on his friend’s rural property that day.

“ … they went out hunting that day, they had been doing some welding on a vehicle. He rushed to the police station … he had it in the bag,” he said.

“Of course while he was on the rural property engaging in hunting it would have been a lawful exercise. The fact that he took it with him made it unlawful.

“It’s not an allegation that he attempted to do anything improper with it, it’s simply that he doesn’t have a reasonable excuse for its possession.”

Mr Gatenby said he had instructions to vary his client’s bail after ongoing difficulty with being able to report later on occasions due to work commitments.

Magistrate Gary Finger told Panagakos he had an appalling history of breaching bail.

Panagakos was fined $1400.

“You’re treading a fine line as to whether police will ask that bail be revoked if you keep coming back here,” Mr Finger said.

Convictions were recorded.