SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
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Three youths charged after home invasions
Nikolios Harisis is shocked after discovering his father’s burial plot had been sold. (Esther Lauaki)
Family’s plot sold By Esther Lauaki A grieving family has been left angry after discovering a Werribee Cemetery plot, purchased a decade ago by their late father, has been sold. George Harisis selected his final resting place in 2011, but when the 91-year-old died last month the Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust told his family that the plot he purchased was now unavailable. Cemeteries Trust acting chief executive Andrew Eriksen said Mr Harisis had mistakenly been allocated a burial site that was already sold at the time. “Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust does have an online record of the Harisis family’s purchase in 2011 of a burial plot in the
Anglican section of the Werribee Cemetery,” Mr Eriksen said. “Unfortunately, the vacant burial plot in the Anglican section purchased by the Harisis family … had earlier been sold by the previous administrator of Werribee Cemetery.” In 2011, the trust had newly taken control of Werribee Cemetery which was previously overseen by Wyndham council. “Given those circumstances, [the trust] supported the Harisis family with a selection of graves in the same section as the family selected one,” Mr Eriksen said. Mr Harisis’ son, Nikolios, told Star Weekly he was disappointed that the family had been “given the runaround” in their time of grief. “I’m angry that, because of an administrative error, my 87-year-old mother and our family
had added stress while we are mourning,” Nikolios said. “My mother had misplaced the proof of purchase documents for the plots so we contacted Wyndham council three months ago to inquire about the plots. “We were told, first by Wyndham council and then by the cemeteries trust, that they could not find any record of the purchase. “The situation was poorly handled. “All I want is an apology for the stress that they put my elderly mother and our family through.” Mr Eriksen said an apology had been issued to the Harisis family. He advised anyone who has bought a burial plot, but misplaced the documentation to contact the trust to be issued another copy.
Three teenagers arrested following two home invasions and a police chase in Melbourne’s west on Sunday morning have been charged with more than 60 offences relating to a string of crimes stretching back to May. Police allege the youths – a 17-year-old and two 16-year-old boys from Wyndham Vale – forced their way into a house on Duncan Street, Flemington about 6.15am, before stealing handbags, mobile phones and a car. A 43-year-old man, suffered minor injuries after a struggle with one of the offenders, before the trio fled in his car and another dark sedan. A short time later it is alleged the teenagers forced their way into another house in Malibu Grove at Keilor Lodge. The youths attempted to steal a 21-year-old’s car, however the victim and his 24-year-old brother fought them off. As they sped off in an allegedly stolen vehicle parked outside the property, they struck the 21-year-old who suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital. Police sighted the vehicle a short time later, about 20 kilometres away in Kensei Street, Kurunjang. Police pursued the vehicle for several kilometres before it crashed at the intersection of Federation Drive and Melton Valley Drive, in Melton. Three youths were arrested in High Street, Melton about 8.30am. A 17-year-old has been charged with home invasion, theft of motor vehicle, theft, burglary, recklessly causing injury, attempted theft of a motor vehicle, reckless conduct endangering life and evading police. The assault is alleged to have taken place at Sunshine Marketplace shopping centre on September 7. A 16-year-old has been charged with a series of offences including motor vehicle theft, home invasion, handling stolen goods, burglary and evading police. Another 16-year-old has been charged with motor vehicle theft, home invasion, burglary, unlawful assault and a range of other offences. All have been remanded in custody to appear at a children’s court at a later date. Benjamin Millar and Rachel Wells