Antonis Antoniadis

THE family of a tourist who was murdered on the way back from a West End nightclub say they don’t think they will ever recover.

Antonis Antoniadis, from Greece, died from stab injuries in July 2024 after being followed by five young men in Portland Place, Marylebone.

The 27-year-old had been targeted due to his Lacoste bag and Versace watch, the Old Bailey had heard. The five men – aged between 18 and 25 – were all jailed for murder and conspiracy to rob after a trial at the Old Bailey.

In a statement, Mr Antoniadis’s parents Stella and Yiannis said: “The loss of our child, so unjust and inhumane, has left us devastated. There is nothing worse in the world than losing your child, especially in the sudden and horrific way that this happened to our Antonis. As for us, as you can imagine, we have sunk deep into grieving and sorrow. The wound that has opened in our life is very big and I don’t think it will ever heal for us, as parents.

“Justice is very important for our child’s vindication but especially to prevent other parents from finding themselves in our tragic position. It is also very important for our societies that need young, honest and decent people.”

The attackers had pursued Mr Antoniadis by car after he left the nightclub by taxi to southeast London. They robbed him and stabbed him to death with “large knives”. He died two weeks later in hospital from the injuries.

The Met Police said the group of five – Amin Alliche, Sofian Alliche, Shian Johnson, Joshua McCorquodale and Alfie Hipple, all from Camden – had been driving around in a stolen car most of the night looking for people to rob. A phone stolen from Mr Antoniadis had been sold on the black market that night.

While there was no CCTV of the attack, the Met said its officers went to “painstaking lengths” to trace the movements of the defendants in the lead up to the murder.

Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn said the case was “particularly challenging and complex case” given the lack of CCTV at the scene.

“The sentences today reflect the severity of the actions of the defendants on that Sunday morning.”

A number of weapons were seized including one zombie knife, five machetes, two swords, two lock knives and seven other knives.

The group were all found guilty on August 1.