Crime Documentary - The Michael Kanaan story
- 7 years ago
Viewer discretion is advised. Some may find this content disturbing. This is a documentary I found interesting.
Michael Kanaan (born 23 May 1975) is a Lebanese Australian triple murderer from Sydney, New South Wales, currently serving three sentences of life imprisonment plus 50 years and 4 months without the possibility of parole, for the murder of three people and other offences, all committed in Sydney between 17 July 1998 and 22 December 1998.
On 2 June 1999, Kanaan held a 32-hour siege before surrendering peacefully to police.
On 17 September 1999, Kanaan was arrested in relation to the Five Dock murders and the murder of Karam.
On 29 November 1999 Magistrate Pat O'Shane discharged Kanaan from standing trial in relation to the White City shooting. Ms O'Shane called the two police officers "stupid, reckless and foolhardy" and said that "the circumstances in which constables Patrech and Fotopoulos became involved with...Kanaan and his cohorts...indicated police harassment of youth" and there was "not a shred of evidence which gives rise to any factual or reasonable cause on the part of these police to chase these young fellows on this particular night." The Director of Public Prosecutions was not impressed and ordered that Kanaan stand trial on the basis of an ex-officio indictment.
On 18 October 2000, the White City trial was aborted after two jurors indicated they may be associated with parties involved in the trial.
On 26 February 2001, Kanaan's Five Dock trial was aborted as a result of an article in The Sydney Morning Herald the previous day.
On 8 August 2001 a Supreme Court jury convicted Kanaan in relation to the Five Dock murders.
On 31 October 2001 Supreme Court Justice Greg James sentenced Kanaan to two terms of life imprisonment plus 25 years imprisonment in relation to the malicious wounding of Singleton, with no non-parole period set. Notably, all three sentences were the maximum possible sentences for the relevant offences. Justice James noted that "I am firmly of the view that, having regard to the multiplicity of the offences, the two killings, in the context of the wounding of Mr Singleton, and also the total culpability of the offender for the three offences, the sentence of life imprisonment for each of the murders is the only appropriate sentence".
On 6 June 2002 a Supreme Court jury convicted Kanaan, along with Mawas and El-Assaad in relation to the murder of Karam.
On 29 August 2002, Supreme Court Justice James Wood sentenced Kanaan to life imprisonment in relation to the murder of Karam.[20] Mawas was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 19 years. El-Assaad was sentenced to 24 years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 18 years (on 13 April 2006 the Court of Criminal Appeal reduced the sentence to 22 years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 16 years 6 months).
On 18 December 2002 Supreme Court Justice Robert Hulme sentenced Kanaan in relation to being an accessory after the fact to the malicious wounding of Edward Lee (having pleaded guilty). He was sentenced to 3 years 4 months imprisonment with a non-parole period of 2 years, as was Mohamed Dib. Refai was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment, fully suspended.
The second White City trial began in July 2003 but after the jury were unable to reach a verdict it was discharged.
In November 2004 the 3rd White City trial commenced. It was also aborted.
In February 2005 Kanaan appealed against his murder convictions and sentences.
On 17 November 2005 the Court of Criminal Appeal rejected Kanaan's appeal in relation to the Five Dock murders.
On 13 April 2006 the Court of Criminal Appeal rejected Kanaan's appeal in relation to the murder of Karam.
On 29 May 2006 Kanaan was finally convicted by a Supreme Court jury in relation to the White City shooting, although the charges had by now been downgraded from attempted murder to that of malicious wounding with intent. On 31 May 2006, Supreme Court Justice Megan Latham sentenced Kanaan to 12 years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 7 years, noting that "the threat to public safety and public order represented by these offences was of the highest order".
On 15 February 2007 a District Court jury convicted Kanaan and Jamal in relation to the Greenacre shooting.
On 27 July 2007, District Court judge Stephen Norrish sentenced Kanaan to 10 years imprisonment in relation to the Greenacre shooting.
On 3 August 2007, Kanaan applied to the High Court of Australia for special leave to appeal in relation to the Five Dock and Karam murders. The applications were dismissed.
Michael Kanaan (born 23 May 1975) is a Lebanese Australian triple murderer from Sydney, New South Wales, currently serving three sentences of life imprisonment plus 50 years and 4 months without the possibility of parole, for the murder of three people and other offences, all committed in Sydney between 17 July 1998 and 22 December 1998.
On 2 June 1999, Kanaan held a 32-hour siege before surrendering peacefully to police.
On 17 September 1999, Kanaan was arrested in relation to the Five Dock murders and the murder of Karam.
On 29 November 1999 Magistrate Pat O'Shane discharged Kanaan from standing trial in relation to the White City shooting. Ms O'Shane called the two police officers "stupid, reckless and foolhardy" and said that "the circumstances in which constables Patrech and Fotopoulos became involved with...Kanaan and his cohorts...indicated police harassment of youth" and there was "not a shred of evidence which gives rise to any factual or reasonable cause on the part of these police to chase these young fellows on this particular night." The Director of Public Prosecutions was not impressed and ordered that Kanaan stand trial on the basis of an ex-officio indictment.
On 18 October 2000, the White City trial was aborted after two jurors indicated they may be associated with parties involved in the trial.
On 26 February 2001, Kanaan's Five Dock trial was aborted as a result of an article in The Sydney Morning Herald the previous day.
On 8 August 2001 a Supreme Court jury convicted Kanaan in relation to the Five Dock murders.
On 31 October 2001 Supreme Court Justice Greg James sentenced Kanaan to two terms of life imprisonment plus 25 years imprisonment in relation to the malicious wounding of Singleton, with no non-parole period set. Notably, all three sentences were the maximum possible sentences for the relevant offences. Justice James noted that "I am firmly of the view that, having regard to the multiplicity of the offences, the two killings, in the context of the wounding of Mr Singleton, and also the total culpability of the offender for the three offences, the sentence of life imprisonment for each of the murders is the only appropriate sentence".
On 6 June 2002 a Supreme Court jury convicted Kanaan, along with Mawas and El-Assaad in relation to the murder of Karam.
On 29 August 2002, Supreme Court Justice James Wood sentenced Kanaan to life imprisonment in relation to the murder of Karam.[20] Mawas was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 19 years. El-Assaad was sentenced to 24 years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 18 years (on 13 April 2006 the Court of Criminal Appeal reduced the sentence to 22 years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 16 years 6 months).
On 18 December 2002 Supreme Court Justice Robert Hulme sentenced Kanaan in relation to being an accessory after the fact to the malicious wounding of Edward Lee (having pleaded guilty). He was sentenced to 3 years 4 months imprisonment with a non-parole period of 2 years, as was Mohamed Dib. Refai was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment, fully suspended.
The second White City trial began in July 2003 but after the jury were unable to reach a verdict it was discharged.
In November 2004 the 3rd White City trial commenced. It was also aborted.
In February 2005 Kanaan appealed against his murder convictions and sentences.
On 17 November 2005 the Court of Criminal Appeal rejected Kanaan's appeal in relation to the Five Dock murders.
On 13 April 2006 the Court of Criminal Appeal rejected Kanaan's appeal in relation to the murder of Karam.
On 29 May 2006 Kanaan was finally convicted by a Supreme Court jury in relation to the White City shooting, although the charges had by now been downgraded from attempted murder to that of malicious wounding with intent. On 31 May 2006, Supreme Court Justice Megan Latham sentenced Kanaan to 12 years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 7 years, noting that "the threat to public safety and public order represented by these offences was of the highest order".
On 15 February 2007 a District Court jury convicted Kanaan and Jamal in relation to the Greenacre shooting.
On 27 July 2007, District Court judge Stephen Norrish sentenced Kanaan to 10 years imprisonment in relation to the Greenacre shooting.
On 3 August 2007, Kanaan applied to the High Court of Australia for special leave to appeal in relation to the Five Dock and Karam murders. The applications were dismissed.