Man charged with murder over the alleged stabbing of a rugby league player in Marrickville

A man will face court over the alleged stabbing death of a popular rugby league player on a busy city street.

The 31-year-old was arrested at Concord in Sydney’s inner-west on Wednesday afternoon and is due to face Burwood Local Court charged with murder on Thursday.

Sitaleki ‘Leki’ Filihiahekava, 32, was fatally stabbed outside the Guzman y Gomez on Marrickville Road, Marrickville, at about 7.40pm on Monday.

Police canvassed CCTV footage from the suburban strip as they searched for his alleged attacker. Some restaurants had to cease trading for the night.

Police believe the stabbing was a targeted attack and are investigating possible links to organised crime. 

Filihiahekava was believed to have been dining before leaving, briefly meeting up with another man prior to the alleged stabbing, police said. 

It was revealed earlier on Wednesday that Mr Filihiahekava was an associate of Dejan ‘Danny’ Radulovic, who was killed in July last year in Balmain, after being brutally beaten and stabbed.

Radulovic was on parole for drug supply at the time, and police suspect the attack was over a drug-related dispute.

Sitaleki Filihiahekava (pictured centre) was a popular player with the Mascot Juniors, a semi-professional rugby league football based in Mascot, south Sydney

Filihiahekava was also friendly with William Siale, who alongside his brother Eric, were shot while sitting in a barber shop in July last year.

The Siale brothers survived the shooting which occurred on the same street Mr Filihiahekava lost his life on Monday.

Police and distressed family members rushed to help him and administered first aid, but despite their efforts, Mr Filihiahekava could not be saved. 

Witnesses heard the ‘heartbreaking’ cries of the man’s mother, while his brother arrived at the scene and tried to lift the sheet covering the body. 

Police held back the distraught man who was heard screaming: ‘He’s my f***ing brother, don’t touch me’. 

The brother was restrained by police and a taser was drawn but not deployed. 

‘It was a highly emotive crime scene,’ Acting Superintendent Ben Kennis told reporters. 

Heartbroken loved ones  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 killed, while a vigil was held the following night 

Superintendent Kennis explained police believe the ‘two people met, and the attack was somewhat targeted’.

‘It was not random in nature,’ he said.  ‘It’s too early to say if they had arranged it … it was clear that they did know each other.’

On Tuesday morning, bouquets of flowers, handwritten notes and a lit candle were left outside the front of the Mexican restaurant, as Mr Filihiahekava’s loved ones struggle to come to terms with his loss.

‘Rest in peace my brother,’ read one.

Mascot Juniors rugby league club paid tribute the former player following his death.

‘Leki was a much loved player of our club who played with his heart on his sleeve (and always with a joke and a smile), every time he took the field with those he called his brothers,’ the club said on social media.