Gry Tomte describes allegedly murdered husband as ‘superhero’

Skincare mogul Gry Tomte pays a heartfelt tribute to her ‘superhero’ soccer coach husband after two Sunshine Coast teenagers were charged with his alleged murder.

Forensic Police at the scene at Warana, on the Sunshine Coast, where the body of Zdravko Bilic, pictured right with his wife Gry Tomte, was found. Picture: Lachie Millard

You can now listen to The Australian's articles. Give us your feedback.

You can now listen to The Australian's articles.

Skincare mogul Gry Tomte has described her husband as “literal sunshine” and a “superhero” ­soccer coach to children on the Sunshine Coast, just hours after two teenagers were charged with his alleged stabbing murder.

A 15-year-old boy from West Woombye and a 17-year-old boy from Beerwah were charged with murder on Thursday, after the body of Zdravko Bilic, 57, was found in the front yard of his Warana beachside mansion on Monday night.

Sunshine Coast Detective Inspector Chris Toohey said the teenagers allegedly broke into Mr Bilic’s home before midnight on Sunday and stole his car keys, before allegedly stabbing him twice in the stomach.

Ms Tomte – the founder of Melbourne-based skincare clinic HUD Skin and Body – was interstate at the time, and had asked a neighbour to check on her husband on Monday.

Through police, Norway-born Ms Tomte released a statement describing her husband, whom she called Zed, as her “entire world for 28 years”.

“The void he leaves behind is unbearable,” she said.

“From the moment we met, both of us living away from family in the new country we had fallen in love with, we knew instantly we were each others’ ‘person’.

“We were complete opposites – and together we made a whole.

“People say I’m the strong one – but I could only be strong because he allowed me to be, and because he wrapped his arms around me daily to make sure I could.

“He selflessly, and with much pride, stood in the shadow and pushed me forward.”

Zdravko Bilic. Picture: Andrew Longhorn

Ms Tomte said her husband was an avid soccer fan and regularly flew to Melbourne Victory matches with his group of close friends; he was also a children’s soccer coach on the Sunshine Coast.

“He was loved by more people than I can put into words,” she said. “As one of our neighbours said yesterday: ‘No offence Gry but he was the whole street’s favourite person.’ ”

Ms Tomte said Mr Bilic was known as “Coach Zed” from Ginger Sport at childcare centres on the Sunshine Coast and was an “exceptional male role model” for the children he taught.

“Whether we were walking on the beach, going to the mall, or ­visiting the zoo, there would always be a little, enthusiastic, excited voice yelling ‘Coach Zed, coach Zed!’ ” she said.

“It was so clear to me and everyone who saw this that he was a superhero to the little kids he worked with.

“If you had the privilege of being in Zed’s presence, you’ll now that he was literal sunshine.”

The teenagers appeared in the Maroochydore Children’s Court on Thursday charged with murder and property offences. Police allege they carried out at least two other break-ins in Brisbane and on the Sunshine Coast, and were using a stolen car.

A weapon is being forensically tested.

Zdravko Bilic and Gry Tomte. Picture: Facebook

Premier David Crisafulli said the incident had “rocked the Sunshine Coast” and was “tragic”.

“On behalf of the entire state, we are so deeply sorry (for) what the family is going through at the moment,” he said in Cairns.

“My heart goes out to that family and the broader community on the Sunshine Coast.”

Mr Crisafulli said he was not going to take a “backwards step” when it came to youth crime, and that any youths charged with murder faced a minimum mandatory life-in-jail sentence under new Queensland laws.

The case is likely to be another test of the government’s “adult crime, adult time” laws, which were the centrepiece of Mr Crisafulli’s youth crime-focused election campaign last year.

Mr Bilic’s murder is the second allegedly committed by a teenager in three weeks. Greg Josephson, 58, was killed inside his Clayfield home on June 26 and found hours later during a teenage house party. A 15-year-old male known to him was charged with his murder.