Yahoo News Airbnb host in Australia admits killing guest over unpaid £112 bill
An Airbnb host in Australia has admitted killing a guest over an unpaid bill.
Jason Colton attacked Ramis Jonuzi, choking him to death when he didn’t pay him what he owed him, the Victoria state Supreme Court heard.
Colton admits the manslaughter of Mr Jonuzi in 2017, but denies murder.
The court heard that Mr Jonuzi had been subletting a room in Melbourne from Colton, who was also a tenant in the same home.
Mr Jonuzi first rented the room for three nights on Airbnb, but agreed to stay another week for 210 dollars (£112).
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But when he didn’t pay the rent at the end of the week, Colton threw him against a wall, choked him and punched him unconscious, prosecutor Mark Gibson told the jury.
Colton also forced Mr Jonuzi to show he had less than 10 dollars in his bank account, the court heard.
The defendant told police he had only wanted to make Mr Jonuzi pass out but prosecutors say Colton knew his actions were likely to kill or seriously injure him.
If convicted of murder, Colton faces a possible life sentence. He will face up to 20 years if the jury accepts the death was manslaughter.
In a statement released at the time, Airbnb said it was “deeply saddened and outraged” by what had happened, and that it had removed the listing from its site.
The trial continues.
