Pal hopes for justice at last for friend gunned down in double shooting

Jan 22 2012 by Adam Aspinall, Sunday Mercury

THE best friend of a Midland man shot dead while on holiday in the USA has told how he hopes justice will be achieved as the teenager accused of his murder prepares to go before the courts.

James Kouzaris and his pal James Cooper were killed after a night out in the Florida city of Sarasota on April 16 last year.

Sixteen year-old Shawn Tyson, said to be a local gang member and charged with both murders, is to appear before Sarasota County Court on Tuesday, March 6, for a docket hearing.

But Mr Kouzaris’ best friend Paul Davies said the late Midland man’s family feared the case could be a long drawn out process.

They were concerned after seeing the pain and anguish Meredith Kercher’s family suffered during the murder trial in Italy which saw three people convicted, only for two of the verdicts to be overturned.

“Obviously we cannot wait to get justice for their deaths,” Paul told the Sunday Mercury. “My worry is that the trial might get bogged down, and become murky.

“My biggest fear is that we could end up in a situation like Meredith Kercher’s family. They aren’t sure who was involved in the murder of their daughter, and who wasn’t.

“We just want the case to be handled as quickly and efficiently, and therefore as painlessly, as possible.”