NSW: Kitchenhand denies murdering former boss

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2007
NSW: Kitchenhand denies murdering former boss

SYDNEY, Dec 7 AAP - A Sydney kitchen hand has pleaded not guilty to the stabbing murder
of his former boss.

In the NSW Supreme Court today, Gordon Francis Chang Szeto, 32, denied a charge of
murdering cafe owner Mario Acquaro, 42, in Crows Nest in January this year.

At his committal hearing in October, the magistrate was told Szeto believed he was
an unwilling participant in a reality TV show at the time of the attack.

"I think a much higher authority has ... to answer for this because some stupid TV
executives or higher governing body has decided to put my life on heavy surveillance,"

Szeto allegedly told police.

Justice Graham Barr today was told the defence had asked the crown to agree for the
trial to be conducted by a judge sitting without a jury.

If the crown agrees, the trial - which was set down for April 21 - is expected to last two days.

AAP mss/was/jt/de

KEYWORD: SZETO

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