Kyle Zandipour sentenced to at least 16 years behind bars
A SIX-second attack has turned into at least 16 years behind bars for killer Kyle Sirious Zandipour, who murdered Joshua Hardy outside McDonald’s.
A SIX second attack has turned into at least 16 years behind bars for killer Kyle Sirious Zandipour.
He was found guilty of murdering Melbourne University student Joshua Hardy in 2014 outside a McDonald’s restaurant on St Kilda Road in Melbourne.
He stomped on Joshua’s head and bashed him to death, in an attack the court heard only lasted six seconds.
Zandipour was sentenced to a maximum of 20 years on Tuesday — with a non-parole period of 16 years — by Victorian Supreme Court Justice Karin Emerton.
Zandipour, 29, was a Melbourne banker when he saw Joshua, 21, at the fast food restaurant.
Joshua was at a 21st in October 2014, and was in the taxi home when he decided to detour for a late night snack at McDonald’s.
He asked to borrow a phone from one of Zandipour’s friends and was pushed away.
Zandipour, who had never met Mr Hardy before, then threw him on the ground and stomped on him. The court was told it was a “truly frightening display of violence”.
Joshua’s father, David Hardy, said moments of madness could have undying consequences.
“Two young lives are shattered. Friends and family of all involved are broken,” he said.
“Everybody loses when it comes to social violence, so please step back and think because actions have consequences. Tragic and devastating consequences for all involved.”
Zandipour pleaded not guilty to murder but was found guilty by a Supreme Court jury in May.
Mr Hardy said now McDonald’s fast food chains were a reminder of his son’s fearful end.
“That big yellow M stands for something different — it’s the place where my son was murdered,” he said.