A coroner investigating the death of Gold Coast influencer Ivona Jovanovic has publicly stated that the purpose of the coroner’s investigation is not to “target” the man previously accused of her manslaughter.
Emergency responders were called to a Highland Park home in 2019 after it was reported that Jovanovic, 27, had been shot in the chest.
She was pronounced dead on arrival by ambulance at Gold Coast University Hospital.
At a pre-inquest conference into his death held in Brisbane on Wednesday, the court was told
A “well-known associate and friend” of Ms Jovanovic, Christos Panagakos, was previously charged with manslaughter.
The couple had been in a relationship before the shooting.
Counsel assisting the coroner, Kim Bryson, told the court that prosecutors ultimately discontinued their case against Panagakos and his charges were dropped.
Bryson said Panagakos had initially been questioned by police after he returned to the home where Jovanovic was shot.
Ivona Jovanovic was shot and killed in Highland Park in 2019
Christos Panagakos was previously charged with involuntary manslaughter before prosecutors dropped all charges.
She said he told police he had made plans the night he was shot with several friends to go to dinner, but he refused to tell police who his friends were or what their plans entailed.
The court was told Panagakos had told police he was on the lower level of the house, where his mother lived, when he “heard a loud bang” and went upstairs to investigate.
Panagakos told police he found Jovanovic “lying on the ground” and that she was unresponsive.
He also told police he saw a “gun with a long barrel” next to Ms. Jovanovic.
“He explained to police that he left the scene before police arrived… (because) he didn’t want to be blamed for what happened,” Bryson said.
Ivona Jovanovic died from a gunshot wound to the chest
The court was told police spoke to a number of people as part of the “extensive” investigation.
“Some of whom were cooperative, some of whom were not,” Ms. Bryson said.
“Other individuals identified as persons of interest declined to provide police statements.”
The court was told that a bag had also reportedly been “dropped” in the house.
Bryson said an autopsy had ruled that Jovanovic had died from a gunshot wound to the chest, but it could not be determined from what distance the gun was fired.
He said it was in the public interest to hold an investigation into Jovanovic’s death.
Coroner Donald MacKenzie told the court he wanted to make it very clear that the purpose of the inquest was solely to find the truth about Jovanovic’s death.
He said the role of the coroner was not to prosecute but to find answers.
“My main concern is twofold, but it is joint: firstly, determining the cause of death and (secondly), it is not an attempt to fix a process that was suspended,” MacKenzie said.
“This is an open investigation and that is why I do not want Christos Panagakos to be seen as a target for his debatable role, whatever it ultimately may be, in this death from a criminal perspective.”
Mr Panagakos has been encouraged to seek legal representation ahead of the coronial inquest.
However, MacKenzie said it was important to note that Panagakos should be legally represented given that he was previously charged in Jovanovic’s death.
“However, you need to be aware of the fact that evidence will be presented (and) in terms of natural justice, you need an opportunity to respond,” MacKenzie said.
‘We have been informed that a lawyer was willing to act on his behalf, but we have not heard anything from that lawyer.
“I wanted to put this on the record from the beginning so that it is very clear to everyone what the purpose of this investigation is and we are very concerned about the natural justice that is being meted out to Mr. Panagakos.”
The coronial inquest will take place from November 18 and is expected to last three days.
16 witnesses will be called to testify, including Mr. Panagakos, who has always maintained his innocence.