Afternoon:
13°c
Two previous victims of murderer Dano Sonnex who he subjected to separate armed robberies on the same day, today demanded to know why he had been released from jail early.
Speaking publicly for the first time, Fleur Staal and Ngiep Lugia wanted answers over why Sonnex, who was convicted yesterday of the murders of French students Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez, had been freed early from an eight-year sentence after attacking them in September 2002.
Ms Staal, a legal secretary, was put in a headlock by the then 17-year-old Sonnex, who put a starting pistol to her temple and demanded mobile phones and jewellery while she and her friends were on a night out in Surrey Quays.
Hours later Mr Ngiep had to wrestle Sonnex to the floor after a failed armed robbery at his Chinese takeaway shop. Sonnex fired blanks at Mr Ngiep's sister Chan and then hit Mr Ngiep in the face with a pistol and threatened to stab him with a four-inch knife after being chased from the Welcome Inn in Bermondsey.
Sonnex was then jailed for eight years after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent, four robberies, possession of an imitation weapon and for a failed armed robbery. He was released in February last year — four months before he murdered Mr Bonomo and Mr Ferez — after serving only five and a half years.
He was freed after serving two thirds of his sentence. Ms Staal, 30, originally from the Netherlands but now living in Leeds, told the Standard: “I had been lucky. He is a murderer and he could have murdered me. He should never have been freed from prison. He killed two innocent people when he should have been behind bars.”
Mr Ngiep, a 36-year-old chef, said: “I didn't expect him to be out so soon, and then go on to kill two people. I am disgusted. It doesn't make any sense.” Mr Ngiep moved to Clacton-on-Sea in Essex after the robbery attempt. He expected Sonnex would spend the best part of a decade behind bars. He added: “It has left a bitter taste with me. He was clearly not safe to be let out.”
