Two men who fatally stabbed 23-year-old basketballer Alier Riak in an unprovoked attack have each been sentenced to at least 19 years in prison.
Riak was out celebrating his birthday on March 13, 2022, when brothers Teamrat Kassa, 22, and Aron Gebregiorgis, 24, along with four others, ambushed him and his friends on Bourke Street in Melbourne.
The attack began when the group first targeted Riak’s 25-year-old brother, Kuol, punching and stabbing him. Shortly after, Riak was fatally stabbed. CCTV footage captured Gebregiorgis calmly walking away and removing his blood-stained jumper, while Kassa and others remained at the scene as police and paramedics arrived.
Riak succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital, while his brother Kuol survived with four stab wounds to his back and arms.
Both Gebregiorgis and Kassa were arrested five days later and charged. They later pleaded guilty to murder and were sentenced by the Victorian Supreme Court.
Justice John Champion condemned the attack as “unjustified and cowardly.”
Gebregiorgis was sentenced to 25 years in prison, with a non-parole period of 19 years.
Kassa received a 26 years and six months sentence and will be eligible for parole after 20 years.
Kassa also pleaded guilty to recklessly causing injury to Kuol Riak.