'Devoid of moral qualms': fatal hit-run driver jailed

Peter Koutsogiannakis handed himself in after he was caught on CCTV fleeing after torching his car. (HANDOUT/VICTORIA POLICE)

Less than three weeks after leaving a cyclist to die, Peter Koutsogiannakis caused another dangerous crash.

Driving a stolen Mazda on January 23, 2022, he tried to skip through a queue of cars lined up at a train boom-gate.

Police tried to get him to pull over, but he sped onto the wrong side of the road and took off.

Koutsogiannakis then entered a bus lane against a red light and hit a Toyota sedan as they were turning right before striking a pole.

He then ran from the scene.

An image of the front of the county court building.
Peter Koutsogiannakis has been sentenced to at least five years over a fatal hit and run.

The 30-year-old's "pattern of lawless behaviour" was aired by Judge Frances Hogan in Melbourne's County Court on Monday, as he was jailed for at least five years over an earlier deadly hit and run.

Koutsogiannakis drove through a red light and struck cyclist Makaro Manapori, 58, as he was riding to work in Hampton Park on January 6, 2022.

Mr Manapori was thrown 45 metres, with his bike found mangled and folded in half.

He was left "like roadkill" to die by Koutsogiannakis, the judge said previously, after he drove off and set fire to the stolen car used in the crash.

"You have shown yourself to have a sense of entitlement devoid of any moral qualms when it comes to ... the safety of others on the road," Judge Hogan said.

"Your previous appalling driving record and failure to learn from repeated offending ... made it only a matter of time before you would kill someone."

Koutsogiannakis was convicted for crimes including theft and dangerous driving over the crash which happened weeks after he struck Mr Manapori.

Driving dangerously had "become a way of life" for him, and his decade-long criminal record showed he had "scant regard" for the road rules and safety of others, Judge Hogan said. 

"You present as a 30-year-old who has lived a self-indulgent, lawless lifestyle, and have been a repeated menace to society."

She jailed him for up to seven years and 10 months.

He must serve five years and three months before he will be eligible for parole, and has already spent more than one year behind bars.

Judge Hogan said he had a complete lack of remorse for the offending, which he continues to deny despite handing himself into police.

Koutsogiannakis' lawyer had contacted police after photos of him running after setting a car on fire were released to media.

"I couldn't live with myself," he told officers just before he was interviewed.

But he fought the charges at trial, claiming it was a case of mistaken identity.

A jury in June found him guilty of dangerous driving causing death, failing to stop at the scene and failing to render assistance to the dying Mr Manapori.

Koutsogiannakis remained silent throughout the hearing and his supporters in court cried as his sentence was handed down.

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store