Alleged abductor was "indecent and intimidatory" to women
STEPHANIE Hammill's alleged abductor and killer has gone on trial nearly four years after her death.
The 20-year-old travel agent got into Ioannis Revenikiotis's Mercedes in the early hours of November 29, 2003 believing it was a taxi. But she was driven away to "a place of darkness" by a city engineer whose motive was clearly sexual, Sheffield Crown Court heard today (Wednesday).
Miss Hammill, of Lincoln Street, Wakefield, was on a night out with her boyfriend James Garland. But the car accelerated away from Balne Lane before he could get in. Stephanie's leg was dangling out of the car for 50m before the door slammed shut.
Prosecutor Alistair MacDonald QC said Revenikiotis - who worked for Flanshaw firm TQ Environmental - drove about two miles towards open country on Batley Road, Alverthorpe.
The barrister said: "Stephanie Hammill feared she had been abducted and was about to be sexually assaulted. She either jumped or fell from the rear right-hand passenger door of a moving vehicle."
Miss Hammill landed in the middle of the road where she was struck by another vehicle, which was travelling towards Wakefield. She suffered severe injuries and died at the scene.
The QC said Revenikiotis, 29, formerly of School Crescent, Dewsbury, didn't stop and eventually fled in his Black Mercedes back to his native Greece.
Revenikiotis, latterly of Halkidiki, Greece, was brought back to this country together with the car and now stands trial.
He denies a charge of kidnap and manslaughter.
Mr MacDonald, prosecuting, outlined a series of incidents involving Revenikiotis and women to the jury. They complained he forced his attention on them but they didn't report it to the police.
The QC added: "There was and is a more sinister aspect of the defendant's personality, which we say demonstrates a propensity or tendency to act in an indecent and intimidatory fashion towards women."
The trial, which is expected to last five weeks, continues.
Please check this website later today (Wednesday) for another update and Friday's Wakefield Express for a full report on the case.
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