A rugby league player stabbed to death outside a busy restaurant in Sydney’s inner west may have had links to organised crime.
Sitaleki Filihiahekava, 32, had just had dinner with family before attending a planned meeting with his killer when he was stabbed multiple times outside Guzman y Gomez on Marrickville Rd about 7.40pm on Monday.
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Horrified diners and witnesses watched on as first responders tried to save him, but Filihiahekava died at the scene.
7NEWS understands Filihiahekava had ties to Sydney’s underworld, as an associate of slain gangland figure Danny Radulovic and friends with brothers who were shot at a barber shop metres from where the 32-year-old was killed.
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Filihiahekava was known to police before the fatal attack, NSW Police acting Superintendent Ben Kennis said.
Police believe the attack was not random and “somewhat targeted” but are working to determine why.
Kennis said Filihiahekava’s encounter with his killer “didn’t last long until that male was stabbed”.
“It was clear that they did know each other,” Kennis said.
Detectives are still searching for Filihiahekava’s attacker and the weapon used.
“That offender is currently unknown … he was last seen running down Silver St in Marrickville,” Kennis said.
Filihiahekava’s family ran to the scene to find his body covered by a sheet on the footpath.
“That’s my f****** brother,” a distraught relative can be heard yelling in one video taken in the aftermath of the stabbing.
Kennis described the crime scene as “highly emotive”.
“Family and friends did converge,” he said.
“I can’t say with any certainty how they found out about what happened.”
One man breached the crime scene and had to be restrained, while an officer drew their taser but did not deploy it in response, he said.
Filihiahekava, a member of Mascot Junior Rugby League club, is being remembered through tributes on social media.
“It is with sincere regret we advise the passing of one of our Club’s players, Sitaleki Filihiahekava, last evening in terrible circumstances,” club president Frank Cookson said on Facebook.
“Leki was a well-liked and respected integral member of our A Reserve grade premiership team two weeks ago when he performed admirably.
“To the extensive Filihiahekava family and Leki’s multitude of friends we express our deepest sympathy.
“RIP Leki, your happy, friendly personality will be greatly missed.”
Anyone with information about the matter, or who was in the area at the time and who has dashcam or mobile phone footage, is asked to contact Marrickville Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
– With Bill Hogan
