07-07-2025
Moment son jokes about ‘Christmas present from dad' before beating him to death in street and screaming ‘he's dead'
THIS is the chilling moment a son joked about a "Christmas present from dad" before beating him to death in the street.
Disturbing CCTV footage revealed how killer John Sarawanskyj bought a bottle of Jack Daniels with his father's card on the morning of his murder.
5
5
5
Sarawanskyj visited VK Saba Wines on Churchill Avenue, in Southport, Merseyside, six times the same day.
On his first trip at around 7.45am, he told the shopkeeper: "I've been up all night me."
Later that day, Sarawanskyj withdrew £200 using his dad's card, as reported by the Echo.
And after returning for the fifth time, the 52-year-old bought a bottle of honey Jack Daniels and said: "That's my Christmas present off my dad. He doesn't know yet. He will do when I get home. He's gonna kill me. Look what I've just got for my Christmas present."
CCTV from a property nearby later captured Sarawanskyj yelling in the street "He's dead. He's dead. He's dead".
The killer is then heard telling a pal: "He's dead. I'm worried about my dog. What are you worried about him for?"
His haunting words came after Sarawanskyj brutally beat his 73-year-old dad to death.
Ivan Sarawanskyj was found with "extensive injuries" inside his home on Braemar Avenue on December 22 last year.
His son confessed to a neighbour after the horror how he "jumped all over his dad's head".
He also callously told the emergency services: "I'm not bothered he's dead. He wasn't a nice man."
The father and son had been embroiled in arguments regarding John Sarawanskyj's dog Zeus.
He claimed Ivan had killed the America bulldog, which left him "deeply upset".
A jury at Liverpool Crown Court heard Sarawanskyj had lied to police several times after his father's fatal injuries.
He originally denied being at the property at all, but his argument later changed to self-defence.
The 53-year-old was last week sentenced to life, with a minimum of 15-years, after being convicted of his father's murder.
Sentencing, Judge Brian Cummings KC said the evidence "was overwhelming".
"He was an alcoholic and I suspect you were too, despite your evidence to the contrary," he told Sarawanskyj.
"The victim was, at the time of his death, a frail old man. He was 73 years old, 5ft5in tall and weighed eight-and-a-half stone. You, in addition to being 21 years younger, were significantly bigger and more robust, 6ft tall and 13st in weight."
The judge told how neighbours had often reported hearing shouting between the pair, and how they shared a "difficult relationship".
"There was clear evidence during the trial that he had treated you cruelly and brutally during your childhood and early adulthood," the judge continued.
"I am sure, on the evidence, that you struck your father with multiple heavy blows to his upper body, as well as to his head.
"Internally, he had injuries including serious brain damage. The pathologist's evidence was that the victim lay dying, probably for several hours, in a semi conscious state, before finally succumbing to the injuries that you had inflicted upon him."
Speaking about the verdict, Detective Chief Inspector Alan Nuttall said: "This was a truly appalling domestic murder of a vulnerable man in his own home. Ivan was described as an elderly, frail old man, who appeared older than his age. Ivan tragically died at the hands of his son in a sustained and abhorrent attack.
'As the court heard, the father-son relationship had deteriorated following the death John's dog.
"Despite his refusal to take responsibility for his actions, the jury unanimously found him guilty.
'John Sarawanskyj lost his father due to his own actions, and the choices he made that day have now also cost him his liberty. He will spend a significant period in prison where I hope he reflects on the devastation he has caused.'
Det Chief Insp Nuttall added: 'The overwhelming majority of domestic abuse is committed by men against their partners. But this case shows in the starkest possible terms that there are many forms of domestic abuse and that they can have fatal consequences.
'We treat all reports of domestic abuse extremely seriously, targeting offenders and supporting vulnerable victims all year round.
'If you are a victim of domestic abuse or believe a neighbour or someone you know is, please let us know so that we can investigate and take action.'
5
5
