Swingers shot in police raid seek damages

AUSTRALIA: A police shooting at a Melbourne fancy dress swingers’ party has left staff from the venue too traumatised to return to work with the owner considering legal action.

Some workers at the Inflation nightclub lodged work cover claims, owner Martha Tsamis said as she forecast potential legal action against Victoria Police. One staff member thought she was going to die and never see her baby again when officers armed with semi-automatic rifles stormed the club on July 8 and shot two patrons at close range.

The police action allegedly came in response to reports of an armed man at the premises. Dale Ewins and Zita Sukys were in a ‘‘compromising position’’ when they were shot by heavily armed police inside the club.

Ewins, dressed as the Joker and carrying a fake gun, and Sukys, as Suicide Squad character Harley Quinn, will seek damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses and loss of earnings, lawyer Kim Price said. Lawyers on Monday filed a writ in the Supreme Court of Victoria, alleging Ewins, 35, was shot, tasered and punched in the face by police with ‘‘no lawful justification‘‘, while Sukys, 37, was shot. Both are are psychologically scarred by ‘‘the attack’’.

Tsamis, who may launch civil action against police over the trauma suffered by staff, said it was an overreaction as police had been told by security the gun was a toy and the man was no threat.

AAP