Tradie faces court accused of fatal one-punch attack on Brazilian man in Surfers Paradise
A tradie accused of fatally punching a Brazilian in Surfers Paradise claims the brawl started over a stolen chip.
A Sydney construction worker claims he was just trying to break up a fight over a stolen chip when he inflicted a fatal punch on a Brazilian man on the Gold Coast.
Police say Ivan Susin, 29, was knocked unconscious, hitting his head on the footpath the Surfers Paradise nightclub district early on October 1.
He died on Friday surrounded by family after almost two weeks in a coma.
Ricky Lefoe, 27, was originally charged with grievous bodily harm, but this was upgraded in Southport Magistrate Court on Wednesday to unlawful striking causing death.
Police say Mr Susin was with friends in Orchid Ave in Surfers Paradise about 1am on October 1 when two men approached them.
Mr Lefoe and another man allegedly stole a chip from one of Mr Susin’s friends before a verbal confrontation.
CCTV footage played to the court appeared to show Mr Susin standing at the counter of a kebab shop when the fight broke out.
Mr Susin appeared to join the brawl, throwing a wild punch that missed, before Mr Lefoe allegedly hit him once and he fell to the ground.
Police said Mr Susin was knocked out, suffered bleeding on the brain and never regained consciousness.
The men fled on foot and witnesses contacted police.
Defence lawyer Cambell MacCallum sought to have Mr Lefoe’s bail continued on the more serious charge, saying his client was trying to break up the fight when Mr Susin approached him from behind and threw the punch.
“There is a strong case here for self-defence,” he told the court on Wednesday.
He said Mr Lefoe’s associate instigated the fight and his client was trying to intervene.
Mr MacCallum said his client was genuinely remorseful over Mr Susin’s death and had handed himself in to the court to face the upgraded charges.
Police objected to his continued bail, saying the new charge carried a higher penalty, so there was a risk he could fail to appear.
However, magistrate Pamela Dowse said there was no reason to change his bail conditions.
Joseane Susin, the sister of the 29-year-old Brazilian man, has since flown to the Gold Coast.
“Dear friends, thank you for the messages of support and demonstrations of true humanity we have received,” she said in a Facebook post this morning.
“This young man was my brother, but he could be son, friend, grandson of anyone who reads me now.”
Ms Susin said her brother, known as Kiko, had travelled to Australia to fulfil his dreams and “was a human being of unquestionable kindness”.
She called on others to be with her at the Queensland court “crying — although in silence”.
In earlier posts, including the confirmation of his death, Ms Susin said the family had “kept the flame of hope burning” during her brother’s “10 days of unbroken struggle” to stay alive.
She said they were experiencing “deep pain” and were ravaged by the “devastating” tragedy.
Mr Lefoe’s matter will return to court for a committal mention on December 10.