Alexander Ivan Rasic: bikie’s son fatally punched Michael Hayes over car debt, court hears
The son of a bikie who fatally punched a father-of-two outside a Gold Coast wine bar heard from the victim’s father’s harrowing statement before being sentenced in court.
The son of a notorious former bikie sergeant-at-arms has been jailed for nine years over a fatal coward punch that deprived two children of their much-loved father, a court has heard.
Palm Beach man Alexander Ivan Rasic, 26, was sentenced in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Wednesday after he fatally punched Sanctuary Cove mechanic and father-of-two Michael Hayes, 39, outside a Gold Coast wine bar in May 2023.
Rasic had pleaded guilty at an earlier date to the charge of unlawful striking causing death.
The court heard a victim impact statement from Mr Hayes’ father who said nothing could ever undo the hurt and the trauma Rasic caused his family.
“The day you decided to hit my son changed everything,” his letter said. “While you got another two Christmases with your children, please remember that my grandchildren did not get that with their father.”
Rasic, who appeared in court having spent the last 17 days in custody for an unrelated matter, had been out on bail for most of the court proceedings.
“There are things my grandchildren will never get again with their father all because of you,” the letter said.
“I only hope … you can show your children when they are the right age the profound damage one’s actions can do.”
Justice Peter Callaghan said he hoped the words should stay with him always.
The court heard Mr Hayes had been out with friends drinking and was affected by alcohol when he was at the ritzy Hope Island wine bar on the night of the fateful punch.
The court heard Mr Hayes saw Rasic outside the bar with an associate and after he went outside to approach him, the two men began to argue.
While outside, Rasic hit Mr Hayes with a single punch to the head, with witnesses at the time describing hearing Mr Hayes’ head “bounce off the pavement” after he fell to the ground.
The court heard witnesses said neither men were “squaring up” before Rasic threw a hook style punch.
After the punch, Rasic ran away while Mr Hayes was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition with a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain.
Despite his vital signs initially improving, Mr Hayes’ condition deteriorated and his life support was switched off five days later on June 1.
On the day of Mr Hayes’ death, police were able to locate Rasic and found a bag containing clothes, a passport and $4000 cash.
Defence barrister Jeffrey Hunter KC told the court the fatal event at the wine bar involved a dispute over a car loan.
He said Rasic loaned Mr Hayes $10,000 to renovate then sell a Holden Commodore within six months, with Rasic supposed to receive a portion of sale profits.
The court heard the two men were previously involved in a scuffle in 2022 after the money hadn’t been paid to Rasic.
Mr Hunter noted that it was Mr Hayes who approached Rasic at the wine bar and that his client has expressed regret and remorse to a psychologist.
The court heard Rasic suffers from bipolar disorder and PTSD, partly stemming from witnessing his father die in front of him in 2014.
Rasic’s father was the late Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang national sergeant-at-arms Simon “The King” Rasic.
Justice Callaghan said he could accept Rasic had some mental health issues that could be traced to trauma, but said those matters could only take him so far.
“You knew what you were doing and the fact that for whatever reason you could not prevent yourself from doing it raises a concern about the danger you might be to the community in the future,” he said.
Justice Callaghan noted Rasic had expressed remorse to his solicitor and psychologist but seemed to have not gone any further and not expressed any empathy to Mr Hayes’ family.
“The event is the source of nothing less than agony for many and it all traces to you,” he said.
He took into account Rasic’s youth, timely guilty plea, minimal criminal history, psychologist’s report and references from his family.
Rasic was sentenced nine years imprisonment and will be eligible for parole once he has served 80 per cent of his sentence.
The 24 days he has spent in custody will be counted as time served.
Justice Callaghan told the court Queensland sentencing laws prevented him from imposing a lengthy period of supervision, which he said would have been in everyone’s interest.
More Coverage
Originally published as Alexander Ivan Rasic: bikie’s son fatally punched Michael Hayes over car debt, court hears
