Two brothers charged with murder in Balmain
Image: 19-year-old under arrest at Liverpool Police Station. Image: NSW Police
by GRACE JOHNSON
Two brothers have been charged with the daylight murder of a 29-year-old man in Sydney’s Inner West.
Dejan ‘Danny’ Radulovic was found on Donnelly Street in Balmain at 3:40pm on July 29, 2023, after emergency services were called following reports of an assault. Mr Radulovic showed significant head and torso injuries after an altercation with two men, who had fled the scene in a white jeep.
The victim was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, where he died shortly after.
A post-mortem examination showed a gunshot wound, and it is believed the victim suffered multiple stabs as well.
The car was found shortly after the death in Five Dock, burnt out and with a firearm inside.
On Tuesday 17 October, a 19-year-old man was arrested and charged with murder.
It has since come to light that the first of the two men to be arrested is a Wests Tigers Junior, and the second his brother, aged 21.
The older brother was arrested on Wednesday and taken to Liverpool Police Station, where he was charged with murder and failing to comply with a digital evidence access order direction.
The two men remain before the courts.
The younger brother, Masei Tavui, has been a member of the Wests Tigers junior footy team for the past four years, playing in several junior competitions. He was not, however, contracted for next year.
His brother, Eti Tavui, did not apply for bail when he appeared in court on Thursday. He is due to reappear in December.
Mr Radulovic was an alleged low-level associate with organised crime. He had been released earlier this year after serving nine months in prison for drug supply.
The incident comes as a shock to occur in the up-market suburb of Balmain, especially in such a quiet and secluded street.
Detective Chief Inspector Watson said it was a “brazen” attack and was concerned about targeted attacks rising and starting to occur during the day.
