Surry Hills restaurant stabbing and fire allegedly staged by injured co-owner

Surry Hills restaurant stabbing and fire allegedly staged by injured co-owner

Police have arrested the owner of a Surry Hills restaurant at the centre of an arson and stabbing incident.

Angelo Ziotas was rescued by a passer-by from inside Essenza Italian Kitchen which was ablaze from a deliberately lit fire. His pet dog died in the fire.

Ziotas claimed he had been stabbed twice in the back by an intruder who came up behind him and asked: “Do you like to burn?”

A man dressed in black was captured on CCTV vision from inside the restaurant. But police now allege Ziotas staged the whole ordeal.

Prosecutor Ernest Chan told Parramatta bail court that the evidence including footprints in the restaurant, the way the fire was started, the way clothing was discarded and the significant amount of CCTV pointed the finger at Ziotas.

Ziotas was refused bail by Magistrate Paul Mulroney.

“On the facts before me, it is an extremely strong prosecution case,” Mulroney said. “A full-time custodial penalty is nigh on inevitable [if he is convicted].

“If Mr Ziotas is in such a position to be motivated [to do this], the real risk is that he has the motivation to commit further serious offences.”

Ziotas has been charged with deliberately lighting the fire, providing false information and animal cruelty. No motive has been declared as yet.

Sheridan Randall, 26^th July 2019