A Queensland man who had been accused of the fatal shooting of Gold Coast woman Ivona Jovanovic will not be tried over his ex-girlfriend's death after prosecutors dropped the case against him.
The ABC can reveal the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) will not present an indictment in the Queensland Supreme Court for manslaughter against Christos Panagakos.
In August last year, Mr Panagakos was committed to stand trial over Ms Jovanovic's shooting death at Highland Park in September, 2019.
"After a careful consideration of the admissible evidence presented at the committal proceeding it was determined that the Crown did not have a reasonable prospect of obtaining a conviction for that offence," a spokesperson for the ODPP said.
Prosecutors previously told a committal hearing held at Southport Magistrates Court last year that Mr Panagakos and three people left the property where Ms Jovanovic, 27, was shot, despite her injuries, after paramedics were called.
The prosecution had alleged that Ms Jovanovic died after Mr Panagakos tripped while in possession of a gun which then discharged.
He has always maintained his innocence and the gun allegedly used in the shooting has never been found.
Inquest into death uncertain
Mr Panagakos was questioned by police following Ms Jovanovic's death but was not charged until January, 2021, after being arrested in Brisbane.
When asked by the ABC if an inquest would be held into the woman's death, a spokesman for the Queensland Coroners Court said: "Coroner Don MacKenzie recently took over the investigation of this death."
"His Honour has not made a decision on whether or not to convene an inquest into Ms Jovanovic's death," the spokesman said.
"He hopes to be able to answer that question shortly."
Police tried to 'extend the interpretation of the law', lawyer says
Criminal defence lawyer Michael Gatenby, who acts for Mr Panagakos, said the original charges against his client were "overreach by the police".
"I think they tried to extend the interpretation of the law," he said.
"He's served time on remand for something they [the ODPP] have said they had no reasonable prospect of succeeding with."
Mr Gatenby said the tendency for police to bring charges that would not result in a prosecution was "crushing" for victim's families.
"I think this is a real problem with police when they charge people with things when there is no realistic prospect of success in court," he said.
"The police build up an anticipation and when it doesn't [go to trial] it's crushing to the families.
"It places the accused in a situation where they have the pressure of very serious charge and families are forced to watch all of this unfold and nothing eventuates."
