Ali Rajabi denied bail in the Adelaide Magistrates Court, charged with attempted murder

Police allege a dad of three drove a car into his own brother, and then ran over the body before stabbing him in the neck, a court has heard.

Ali Rajabi was denied bail in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday. Photo: File

A man who police allege drove over his brother’s body with his car before stabbing him in the neck told them he was trying to find a “solution” for his mental health issues, a court has heard.

Ali Rajabi, 36, applied for bail by video link in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday, charged with attempted murder.

A police prosecutor told the court the alleged victim was Rajabi’s brother.

The court heard a witness saw Rajabi’s brother walking along the side of the Sturt Highway at Monash on November 9.

“He then stated that he observed a car travelling in the dirt behind the male,” the police prosecutor said.

“The vehicle then struck the male from behind, causing the male to fly in the air above the height of the car before landing in the dirt.”

The court heard Rajabi performed a U-turn and put his foot flat on the accelerator before allegedly driving over his brother’s body which was laying on the dirt ground.

“At this time the witness observed a person exit the car and walk towards the victim and stab him to the neck,” the police prosecutor said.

The court heard the witnesses yelled at Rajabi “we saw what you did,” to which he allegedly replied, “it’s okay, he’s my brother.”

When police arrived Rajabi allegedly said, “it’s okay, he’s my brother - I stabbed him because I had to.”

“The accused stated the victim had mental health issues and he has been a burden on him and his family for some time,” the police prosecutor said.

Rajabi told police he had sent his 34-year-old brother back to Afghanistan in 2019 but he returned to Australia in 2020.

Ali Rajabi was denied bail in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday. Photo: AAP Image/Morgan Sette.

The court heard as Rajabi was driving home from work he saw his brother in Renmark and picked him up.   
“The accused stated his first thought was to drive head on into a truck on the highway and kill himself and the victim... but then thought of his wife, children and job,” the police prosecutor said.

The court heard Rajabi’s brother then got out of the car which is when the incident took place.

“The accused stated he thought he was trying to stop the victim suffering as he had mental health issues,” the police prosecutor said.

“The accused stated he was trying to find a solution for the victim, the accused stated his plan was to rest him in peace.”

Rajabi, of Renmark, is charged with attempted murder.

He is yet to enter any pleas.

Rajabi’s lawyer told the court Rajabi had a history of mental health issues.

“He saw a doctor about it in 2014, took medication for it at the time and then stopped - he hasn’t seen a psychologist since then,” the lawyer said.

“He was feeling a lot of mental and family pressure in the lead up to this incident.”

The court heard Rajabi was married, with three young sons and was the primary breadwinner for the family.

“His wife is struggling at the moment, she is not in a position to see to the family’s financial obligations,” Rajabi’s lawyer said.

Magistrate Brett Dixon denied Rajabi bail.

“Clearly this is a very difficult matter but given the serious nature of the allegations, the risk of harm to the defendant and others, I’m not prepared to grant bail,” he said.