Daniel Hasapis sentenced in Supreme Court for murdering Sean Froggatt in Wyong
A Wyong man high on ice brutally murdered his neighbour and assaulted two women with chains and a lighter during a violent rampage that has now landed him behind bars for more than two decades.
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A Central Coast man who savagely beat his neighbour to death while high on drugs, and also assaulted two women with chains and a lighter, has learned his fate.
Daniel Paul Hasapis, of Wyong, appeared before the NSW Supreme Court in Sydney on Thursday for sentencing after being found guilty of murdering Sean Froggatt by Justice Natalie Adams in February. He also pleaded guilty to assaulting two women at his unit.
On the Australia Day long weekend, Bonnie Cullen and Mariana Taitoko were at Hasapis’ home on Levitt Street, Wyong, when the violence unfolded.
On January 27, 2023 Hasapis launched a brutal assault on Ms Taitoko, accusing her of stealing from him. The court heard the assault lasted several hours.
Hasapis dragged her by the hair, struck her, burned her skin with a lighter, and hit her in the head, causing her to black out.
Later that day, Hasapis travelled to Wentworthville to buy the drug ice. While he was out, he messaged Ms Cullen, his partner at the time, telling her to make sure no one entered the unit, as he didn’t want anything stolen.
During his absence, Mr Froggatt visited the unit to supply cannabis to the women and also smoked some himself.
That evening, Hasapis returned, smoked ice, and became enraged when he believed items were missing. He spat on and punched Ms Cullen in the face, accusing her of sex work.
She then told him Mr Froggatt had visited earlier.
Hasapis invited Mr Froggatt back to the unit, claiming he wanted to talk about the missing items. When Mr Froggatt arrived, Hasapis launched into a violent assault, inflicting more than 70 injuries that ultimately killed him.
The court heard the fatal beating lasted about 30 minutes, during which Hasapis interrogated Mr Froggatt while simultaneously attacking the two women, whipping them with a chain.
When Ms Taitoko returned home the next day with visible injuries, a friend contacted authorities. Police attended Hasapis’ unit and found Mr Froggatt’s body.
Justice Natalie Adams sentenced Hasapis to an aggregate term of 26 years in prison for the murder and assaults. He will be eligible for parole on January 27, 2041.
“Overall, the fatal assault was severe, prolonged, involved gratuitous cruelty and was carried out against a defenceless man,” Justice Adams said.
A family member of Mr Froggatt told the court during a sentence hearing that his death had left a permanent void in their lives.
“For me personally, the initial shock gave way to overwhelming fear and anxiety. Being so close to such a violent crime shattered my sense of safety,” they said.
“The cruelty and inhumanity of the assault inflicted by Mr Hasapis is impossible to forget or reconcile.”
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Originally published as Daniel Hasapis sentenced in Supreme Court for murdering Sean Froggatt in Wyong
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