Campbelltown, Adelaide – A man accused of fatally shooting his wife and attempting to kill his daughter has pleaded not guilty to the horrific violence that unfolded on a quiet winter afternoon in suburban Adelaide. Police allege that Vasilis Vergulis used a Glock pistol to murder his wife, Aleksandra Vergulis, outside their home in Campbelltown on July 15. He then allegedly turned the gun towards his daughter, Daniela, leaving both women with gunshot wounds on their driveway.
Aleksandra Vergulis tragically passed away at the scene, while Daniela sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries and survived. After a four-hour standoff with the police, Vasilis Vergulis was taken into custody and has been in remand ever since. Appearing via videolink at the South Australian Supreme Court, Mr. Vergulis, with a shaved head and wearing a green prison jumper, pleaded not guilty in Russian to charges of murder, attempted murder, and causing serious harm.
The not guilty pleas mean that the case is now set to go to trial at the court. Mr. Vergulis’ defense counsel requested eight weeks to prepare for the initial directions hearing, a request that was not opposed by prosecutor Brigid Symes. Justice Christopher Bleby scheduled the hearing for June 17 and ordered that Mr. Vergulis remain in custody until then. Meanwhile, Daniela Vergulis, a law graduate from the University of South Australia, works as a legal secretary at the Crown Solicitor’s Office, providing legal advice to the South Australian government.
The alleged shooting incident that occurred in July of last year has left a community in shock and raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the violent act. As the case moves towards trial, more details may emerge about the events leading up to the tragic incident and the motivations behind the alleged actions of Vasilis Vergulis. As the legal process unfolds, the family and friends of the victims are left seeking justice and closure for the loss of Aleksandra Vergulis and the trauma experienced by Daniela Vergulis.