Din Decevic: Lakemba man refused bail after alleged road rage attack on John Totsis

The fiance of a man, allegedly king hit in a wild road rage incident which left him with a fractured skull and brain bleed, has described the sleepless nights which followed the horror news.

John Totsis, 47, was rushed to St George Hospital as a result of the serious injuries.

A man who allegedly king hit a man in a wild road rage incident - leaving the victim with a fractured skull and brain bleed - was heard to say “the c***’s asleep” as the man lay unconscious, a court has heard.

Din Decevic, 34, a mobile crane operator, was charged with reckless grievous bodily harm following a violent altercation with driver John Totsis at Peel St, Belmore on May 28.

Mr Totsis, 47, was rushed to St George Hospital as a result of the serious injuries. He remains in the hospital three weeks following the incident.

Detectives attended a unit in Sproule St, Lakemba and arrested Decevic about 9.30pm on Monday.

Mr Totsis’ fiance, Liezl Rubillos, said she was devastated she couldn’t be with her partner as he recovered from a fractured skull and brain bleed.

Liezl Rubillos is unable to be with John Totsis during his recovery as she waits for her visa in the Phillipines.

“I was shocked because he’s not a bad man. I didn’t think it would happen to him that someone would (allegedly) do that to him because he’s a good man,” she said.

“He’s recovering and I can talk to him now unlike the very first week I couldn’t talk to him because he was still weak at the time.

John Totsis, 47, was rushed to St George Hospital as a result of the serious injuries.

Ms Rubillos, a teacher from the Philippines said she was sad she was unable to be with her partner as she continues to wait for her visa.

“I was very shocked and I couldn’t sleep because of what happened and I couldn’t do anything about it because I am far away from him,” she said.

“In almost our three years of the relationship, he’s sweet, caring and he’s a responsible dad to his two sons so I didn’t expect it to happen to him.”

Decevic applied for bail at Bankstown Local Court on Thursday where he appeared by videolink and his supporters, including his wife, friends and cousins, gathered in the courtroom.

John Totsis and his fiance Liezl Rubillos.

The court heard the altercation was sparked by Decevic, driving a Raptor, and Mr Totsis driving a Hyundai both beeping their horns at each other.

Mr Totsis reversed to have a conversation with Decevic then attempted to drive off, but was blocked by Decevic who had reversed on an angle.

Magistrate Glenn Walsh said Decevic then approached Mr Totsis and is alleged to have punched him in the face.

The police prosecutor told the court Mr Totsis lost consciousness and fell back and hit his head on the road.

“(Decevic) grabbed him and punched him for a third time … the alleged victim was not able to defend himself,” he said.

Mr Walsh said while Mr Totsis remained motionless on the ground Decevic stepped back and was heard yelling “wake up, wake up”.

He then began to panic and was heard to say, “the c***’s asleep the c***’s asleep”.

He allegedly lied to police about who was driving and told officers Mr Totsis allegedly had threatened to kill him and he was “crazy and on ice”, Mr Walsh said.

John Totsis and Liezl Rubillos during a holiday in the Philippines.

Ms Rubillos said the incident happened on the two year anniversary of their engagement - as the couple met through her cousin and had been together since 2020.

She said the pair had “simple plans” to celebrate their anniversary but their day took a turn when Mr Totsis didn’t answer her calls after they finished work.

“We greeted each other happy anniversary because he worked very early at that time so we couldn’t chat long but when he arrived home from work we were going to call and maybe celebrate,” she said.

But Mr Totsis’s eldest son messaged Ms Rubillos and told her his father was in hospital.

“He is trying to get better, he is very positive and he’s strong and brave,” she said.

Mr Walsh refused bail and the matter was adjourned to Burwood Local Court on August 16.