Ricky Lefoe sentenced for Gold Coast manslaughter of Ivan Susin

The heartbroken mother of a student killed during a brawl over a stolen chip has opened up about her loss.

The man who was found guilty of the manslaughter of a “bright soul” killed by a single punch during a brawl over a stolen chip will remain behind bars for at least four years.

Ricky Lefoe, 32, was found guilty of killing Ivan Susin outside a Gold Coast kebab shop in September 2019 after his friend stole a hot chip from Mr Susin’s mates.

Moments after a fight broke out between the group, the 29-year-old Brazilian student was floored by a single punch from Lefoe.

Lefoe had pleaded not guilty to Mr Susin’s manslaughter but was later found guilty by a Supreme Court jury in February.

Ricky Lefoe was found guilty in February for the manslaughter of Brazilian man Ivan Susin. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Mr Susin died 11 days after he suffered the fatal head injury caused by Lefoe.

Lefoe’s friend Shaun Simpson had stolen food from two of Mr Susin’s friends sitting on a nearby bench.

Seeing his friends in crisis, Mr Susin had approached the group and attempted to intervene in the brawl by throwing a punch at Mr Simpson, but completely missed, the court heard.

CCTV captured the moment Ivan Susin was knocked out cold on the ground. Picture: 9 News

Crown prosecutor Elizabeth Kelso said Lefoe had then threw the fatal punch, which was captured on CCTV, knocking Mr Susin unconscious.

Ms Kelso said Lefoe had been arrested the night of the fight and charged after he’d walked away from the scene.

She said Lefoe had shown no remorse for his actions, even as Mr Susin remained alive in hospital at the time.

He died in hospital 11 days later.

Ivan Susin died after a fatal blow during a fight in Surfers Paradise in 2019.

“(CCTV footage captured) Mr Lefoe (had) walked back on the other side of the road while assistance was being provided to Mr Susin and he walked to his unit complex,” Ms Kelso said.

The court heard upon his arrest, Lefoe had asked about the charges Mr Simpson faced, whether the “fight looked bad” and whether Mr Susin or his friends would be charged.

Ms Kelso said Lefoe gave “no inquiry or concern into Mr Susin’s health” and told officers it was “self defence” because the student had “tried to hit my mate”.

The court heard Lefoe told police he “f —king put him (Mr Susin) to sleep” as a result of the punch.

Mr Susin’s mother, Jane, told the court she will never fully recover from the loss of her only son.

“The impacts of this loss cannot be translated into words, they hurt us daily,” the court heard while her victim impact statement was read out in Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday.

“I will never have his affection again, my family will never be complete or truly happy.

“He lost his life helping his friend demonstrating he was a true messenger of peace.”

Brazilian tourist Ivan Susin’s sister Joseane and his mother Jane shared with Brisbane Supreme Court how much the loss of the 29-year-old continues to haunt them. NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

His sister Joseane also shared with the court how the grief of losing her only remaining sibling, after her eldest sister died in 2016 during a car accident, remains unbearable to this day.

“The cruel way of losing Ivan almost consumes me,” she said.

“Nothing can heal this wound.

“For us to go through the whole process, it brings up again all the trauma.“

The court heard Mr Susin’s mother and sister had flown to Australia for the trial and sat in the back of the courtroom everyday despite not understanding English.

Chief Justice Helen Bowskill sentenced Lefoe to eight years imprisonment.

Ivan Susin had been on a working visa in Australia when he was killed.

She said it was “hard to find any explanation” for Lefoe’s decision to throw the fatal punch, especially after the court heard he had told police he had not been drinking that night.

“This altercation being started by Mr Simpson and involving the momentary act by your part in a single blow,” Chief Justice Bowskill said.

“There’s no one right answer to determining the right penalty and no one penalty will ease the pain of Mr Susin’s family.”

Chief Justice Bowskill told the court she would not be imposing an early parole eligibility date.

Lefoe will have to wait four years before can apply to the parole board.

Originally published as Ricky Lefoe sentenced for Gold Coast manslaughter of Ivan Susin