The Uber driver accused of the late-night hit-and-run hit-and-run of a young lawyer is practically living as a recluse, after his own family abandoned him.
Former real estate agent Zisi Kokotatsios, 63, was released on bail Saturday after being accused of killing Harvard-educated lawyer Mitch East, 28.
East was found dead on Fletcher Street in the upscale seaside suburb of Tamarama shortly after 4am on Sunday, March 17.
Police allege Kokotatsios was illegally using his phone while driving to pick up a rideshare customer.
Kokotatsios spent a night in a remand cell before returning to his home in Bankstown on Saturday, where he now relies on the charity of his neighbours.
Uber driver Zisi Kokotatsios (pictured) granted bail after being charged with hit-and-run death
A neighbor was seen delivering groceries in a trolley to Mr Kokotatsios (above, with the trolley) at his home in Sydney’s southwest on Tuesday.
The former businessman was seen pushing a cart full of groceries home after a sympathetic neighbor delivered them to him on Tuesday afternoon.
The sighting comes after a relative of the former real estate agent and ex-Qantas engineer revealed a deep family rift that has left Kokotatsios isolated.
His sister-in-law Kathy Kokotatsios revealed that even his children were no longer in regular contact with him and that his relatives had not spoken to him since his arrest.
“He’s my brother-in-law but we have no relationship with him,” Ms Kokotatsios told Daily Mail Australia from her home in western Sydney.
It’s been a long time since we were each other’s lives. We have not spoken to him since his arrest; ‘His own children don’t even talk to him.’
Mr. Kokotatsios turned himself in at the Granville police station five days after the hit-and-run.
Attorney Mitch East is pictured with his partner Natasha Dunsbee-Brown. Mr East died tragically in Tamarama, in Sydney’s east, on Sunday, March 17.
Pictured, officers process the crime scene in Tamarama on Sunday after the alleged hit-and-run.
The court was told a neighbour’s CCTV showed the car “lifted” when it hit Mr East.
During a hearing at Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday, the police prosecutor said surveillance footage had captured the moment Kokotatsios allegedly hit Mitch East and his car was “lifted”.
“An audible sound of the crash was captured by CCTV in the vicinity of the scene and the vehicle was seen to reduce speed significantly before fleeing,” he said.
“There is no doubt that the driver of the vehicle knew he had hit something.”
Despite the best efforts of paramedics, East was pronounced dead at the scene.
The court heard the 28-year-old lawyer was “lying in the street” at the time of impact.
Police allege Kokotatsios had been distracted because he was using his cell phone while driving, so he did not see East on the road.
“The accused did something wrong and that’s why someone died,” the police prosecutor said.
He alleged that the rideshare driver did not stop to check on or help the injured man, but instead continued driving.
East was found with critical injuries to his head and chest by a passer-by in Fletcher Street, Tamarama.
“If you had stopped and taken a look, you would have seen a person dying,” the prosecutor said.
He noted that Kokotatsios had been accused of using his mobile phone while driving in December last year, which he said showed a pattern of disregard for road safety.
The court heard the rideshare driver sometimes wears glasses when driving.
The magistrate agreed there were “difficulties” with the prosecution’s case relating to the cause of Mr East’s death and “what (Mr Kokotatsios) was doing while driving”.
“That’s all for another day,” he said.
He granted bail to the rideshare driver under strict conditions, requiring him to report to police once a week and not go near any international departure points.
He faces charges of failing to stop and assist after vehicle impact resulting in death, dangerous driving resulting in death – dangerous driving, careless driving (causing death) and use of mobile phone by driver when not permitted. .
However, Kokotatsios’ lawyer Mohamad Sakr argued that police “lack substantial evidence” to prove that his client was illegally using his mobile phone, which was stored in an authorized case.
He rejected the prosecutor’s claim that the case against his client was “compelling,” arguing that there were a number of issues and “definite concerns” with the prosecution’s case.
“It is accepted that Mr Kokotatsios hit something,” he said.
“We don’t know… that it was actually my client who killed this young man.”
Sakr questioned whether the police had viable evidence as to whether Mr Kokotatsios’ actions “in fact caused the death”.
He said the alleged victim had posed a risk to himself by lying on the ground and claimed his client would have stopped to render aid if he had known he had hit a person.
He will return to court in May.
– With NCA Newswire