'I'm mentally paralysed': Couple shot by police at sex party break silence
A couple who were shot by police at a Melbourne nightclub swingers' party have spoken out for the first time since the horrific incident.
Zita Sukys, 37, and her boyfriend Dale Ewins, 35, were at a 'Saints and Sinners Ball' and engaged in a sex act at the time they were shot by police on July 8.
The couple were dressed as comic-book villains at Inflation in King Street in Melbourne's CBD and say they both have been left physically and mentally scarred from the incident.
“They blew my leg apart,” Ms Sukys told News Corp. “I am mentally paralysed. I can’t do anything.”
Ms Sukys was shot in the right knee and thigh, and Mr Ewins was shot twice in the back, leaving him with a perforated bowel and fractured shoulder.
“We are both parents. This isn’t what we expected for a night out," Mr Ewins said.
The duo are now suing Victoria Police over the shooting and deny claims that Mr Ewins allegedly pointed what appeared to be a real gun at officers.
They say they're shocked police are defending the shooting as "lawful self-defence".
“It’s alarming to learn that the people responsible for protecting the community and upholding the law will lie and hide the truth rather than accept responsibility for recklessly shooting and nearly killing two innocent people,” they said.
Mr Ewins, who has a four-year-old daughter, said he has been left with extensive scarring on his shoulder, back and stomach and needs to undergo a shoulder reconstruction.
He said the injuries have made it difficult to live his life like normal and that he can't "even lift a shopping bag".
“It’s taken away our quality of life,” he said.
Ms Sukys, who has two daughters aged eight and 10, has been left with nerve damage in her leg, and two large scars.
“My scars are horrible. I’m disgusted. When people ask how I got them, they are shocked,” she said.
Both say they've been left unable to work.
Officers arrived at the nightclub on July 8 after reports a man inside had a gun which was later discovered to be a toy and part of Mr Ewin’s Joker costume.
Ms Sukys was dressed as Harley Quinn.
Police have said that Mr Ewins was pointing what looked like a real gun at officers.
Mr Ewins claims he was punched in the head and tasered in the chest after being shot.
