Dragan Losic, ‘person of interest’ in Dianne Brimble’s cruise ship death sentenced for DV offending

A man who was a person of interest in Dianne Brimble’s 2002 cruise ship death has walked free for bashing his wife in front of their young son.

A man who gave evidence at the inquest into Dianne Brimble’s 2002 cruise ship death has learnt his fate for violently assaulting his wife in front of their young son.

However, Dragan Losic, 63, walked free from court after a judge determined he was a low risk of reoffending. During sentencing, the District Court heard the victim was Losic’s now ex-wife, who he shared two children with.

The court heard during an argument in 2019 Losic punched the victim to the forehead.

Dragan Losic outside court in Darlinghurst during the trial into the death of Dianne Brimble.

In January 2022 the woman was in bed with their four-year-old son and Losic became angry about a message he had seen on her mobile phone.

“You physically pulled her out of the bed and onto the ground,” Judge Carmen Matteo said.

The argument continued into the loungeroom and Losic pushed her out of the house, causing her to fall again.

The court heard Losic also pulled the victim out of the bed by her hair on another occasion, causing her to fall to the ground.Losic pleaded guilty to multiple counts of aggravated assault

.The victim said that she was a happy and active person, a devoted mother and a successful business woman before the offending but now struggles to find hope in her future.

“Her sense of self worth has been diminished and she has struggled with anxiety and fear,” Judge Matteo said.

The court heard Losic – who was now separated from the victim – had a criminal history consisting of dishonesty and drug possession.

Losic was in a group of eight men from Adelaide who travelled together on the Pacific Sky cruise ship in September 2002.

The men were all later named as persons of interest in the investigation into fellow passenger, Dianne Brimble’s death after she died from alcohol and gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) toxicity, one day into the trip.

Allegations were made in court that some of the eight had provided drugs to Ms Brimble, had sex with her and taken photos of her naked while she was unconscious and possibly dying.

Three were charged: Mark Wilhelm, Ryan Kuchel and Letterio “Leo” Silvestri.

A charge of manslaughter against Wilhelm was later dropped before he was convicted for supplying a prohibited drug – fantasy (GHB) – to Ms Brimble.

Kuchel was sentenced to an 18-month good behaviour bond because he failed to tell police Wilhelm gave Ms Brimble fantasy.

Silvestri was placed on a 15-month good behaviour bond for the same offence.

On Wednesday, Judge Matteo recorded convictions but due to Losic’s low risk of reoffending and time spent in custody and on home detention bail, she imposed no further penalty.

“You have acknowledged through your counsel that your behaviour towards (the victim) was completely unacceptable,” she said.