Man charged with murder over alleged stabbing of rugby player in Marrickville
Rapper Snoee Badman is due to appear in court over the alleged stabbing death of a popular rugby player on the street.
Jacob Tammer-Spence, who goes by the rap name Snoee Badman, was arrested in Concord in Sydney’s west on Wednesday afternoon and is due to appear in Burwood District Court on Thursday charged with murder.
Sitaleki ‘Leki’ Filihiahekava, 32, was allegedly fatally stabbed outside a Guzman y Gomez store on Marrickville Road in Marrickville at around 7.40pm on Monday.
Police have been reviewing CCTV footage of the road as they search for his alleged attacker, with some restaurants forced to close trading for the night.
Police believe the alleged stabbing was a targeted attack and are investigating possible links to organised crime.
According to police, Filihiahekava was said to have been eating before she left and briefly met another man before she was stabbed.
Earlier on Wednesday it was revealed that Mr Filihiahekava was an accomplice of Dejan ‘Danny’ Radulovic, who was beaten and stabbed in Balmain in July last year.
Radulovic was under court supervision for drug trafficking at the time and police suspect the attack was the result of a drug-related dispute.
Sitaleki ‘Leki’ Filihiahekava, 32 (pictured) was allegedly stabbed to death outside a Guzman y Gomez store in central Sydney
Sitaleki Filihiahekava (pictured centre) was a popular player at Mascot Juniors, a semi-professional rugby league football club based in Mascot, in Sydney’s south.
Filihiahekava was also friends with William Siale, who was shot along with his brother Eric while sitting in a barbershop in July last year.
The Siale brothers survived the shooting that took place on the same street where Mr Filihiahekava was killed on Monday.
Police and family members rushed to the scene and administered first aid, but despite their efforts, Mr Filihiahekava could not be saved.
Witnesses heard the man’s mother’s “heartbreaking” screams as his brother arrived at the scene and tried to lift the sheet covering the body.
Police stopped the distraught man who shouted, “He’s my fucking brother, don’t touch me.”
“It was a very emotional crime scene,” Acting Chief Inspector Ben Kennis told reporters.
Heartbroken relatives returned to the scene of the shocking crime to leave flowers and pay their respects
Flowers and cards were left outside the restaurant where Mr Filihiahekava was murdered, while a vigil was held the following night
Chief Inspector Kennis explained that police believe ‘the two people met and the attack was somewhat targeted’.
“It wasn’t random in nature,” he claims. “It’s too early to say whether they arranged it … it was clear they knew each other.”
Bouquets of flowers, handwritten notes and a burning candle were left outside the Mexican restaurant on Tuesday morning as Mr Filihiahekava’s loved ones struggled to cope with the loss.
“Rest in peace, my brother,” read one of the letters.
Rugby club Mascot Juniors paid tribute to the former player after his passing.
“Leki was a beloved player of our club who always played with his heart on his sleeve (and always with a joke and a smile), every time he went onto the pitch with those he called his brothers,” the club said on social media.
