Siope Paseka faces court for stabbing pedestrian four times during unprovoked attack

A man collapsed in a pool of his own blood after being stabbed four times while walking home with his groceries in Sunshine, a court has heard.

A Deer Park man has admitted to violently stabbing a pedestrian four times when he was walking home with his groceries.

Siope Paseka, 20, on Wednesday pleaded guilty to one charge of intentionally causing serious injury in the County Court over a frightening incident at Sunshine on July 6, 2021.

Prosecutor Adrian Brennan said the victim had picked up some groceries at his local Woolworths and opted to walk the longer route home as it was a warm Tuesday night.

But as he approached the train station, just after midnight, two youths suddenly appeared.

One asked where the victim was from before repeatedly asking if he was “BDK” – a gang.

When the victim asked what BDK meant, the co-offender became aggressive and told the victim: “This is my block”.

When the victim replied that he was just trying to get home, Paseka, then aged 19, stepped in and again asked if the victim was “BDK” before grabbing him by the collar and pushing him on the road.

Paseka then produced a knife and stabbed him twice in the back and in the neck and arm.

The youths then entered a stationary black Toyota Kluger and fled.

The court heard the victim, who felt “something warm running down his body”, realised he had been stabbed and made his way to the train station.

Making his way from the bus terminals into the concourse, leaving a trail of blood behind him, the victim collapsed in a pool of his blood.

The court heard protective services officers began first aid until paramedics arrived and transported the victim to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

As a result of the stab wounds the victim sustained a punctured lung and needed to wear an elbow splint for several weeks. He sustained decreased sensation in the arm he was stabbed.

Police were able to identify Paseka as the offender by reviewing CCTV footage and he was arrested on July 8. He has been in custody since.

Paseka’s barrister, Alan Marshall, said while his client’s behaviour was “ludicrous”, he had spent over a year in custody on remand.

He submitted Paseka, who he said was “inebriated” at the time of the offending, had made “marked improvements” to his life and health in custody and was currently sober.

He raised concerns about Paseka remaining in custody due to his age and submitted he should serve the remainder of his sentence in the community with support in place to foster his rehabilitation.

But the prosecution submitted he did not meet the compelling circumstances test and the offending was “serious and unprovoked” against a defenceless victim.

But Judge Nola Karapanagiotidis said while the attack was fuelled by alcohol, there was no other apparent motive.

“It goes without saying that this is utterly unacceptable behaviour.”

She said she would reflect upon the case and sentence Paseka next week.