Soccer star’s dad made kill threats
Soccer star’s dad makes death threat in neighbourhood dispute
THE father of a homegrown soccer star has faced court for threatening to kill an 85-year-old woman.
Luka Didulica appeared at the Geelong Magistrates’ Court yesterday for his role in a heated argument in Drumcondra on October 10 last year.
The court heard Didulica made repeated threats to kill the woman after a neighbourhood dispute boiled over. The incident occurred at a property owned by his son, Joey, who once enjoyed a stellar international soccer career.
THE father of a homegrown soccer star has faced court for threatening to kill an 85-yearold woman.
Luka Didulica appeared at the Geelong Magistrates’ Court yesterday over his role in a heated argument in Drumcondra on October 10 last year.
The court heard Didulica made repeated threats to kill the woman after a neighbourhood dispute boiled over.
The incident occurred at a property owned by his son, Joey, who once enjoyed a stellar international soccer career.
The Geelong-born former goalkeeper represented Croatia’s national team four times and had lengthy stints in top European leagues, including in the Netherlands and Austria.
Didulica’s other son, John, is CEO of the Professional Footballers Association.
The court heard tensions came to the surface in October when the elderly victim confronted Joey and Luka Didulica over building works taking place near her fenceline.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Geoff Lamb said a heated argument ensued between the trio as Luka Didulica got into the victim’s face, who responded by taking a swipe at the 68-year-old’s head.
He said it sparked an outburst from Didulica, who told the woman: “You bloody b---h. I’m going to kill you.”
Didulica also said: “I’m going to kill the bloody b---h (or) I’m going to get somebody else to do it.”
Sen-Constable Lamb said the victim — who was in court yesterday — now wore a security alert system around her neck amid fears the dispute could escalate.
Didulica had initially been recommended for the court’s diversion program, which would have meant he would keep a clean criminal record. But that was refused yesterday as he pleaded guilty to a single charge of making a threat to kill.
Didulica’s lawyer said the incident was out of character and only came as a result of the ongoing neighbourhood dispute.
“It’s unfortunate it’s resulted in this event occurring,” the lawyer said.
Magistrate Peter Mellas said he expected Didulica’s early guilty plea would be of “some comfort” to the victim.
“When it comes to neighbourhood disputes, there are much better ways to deal with it than confront it head-on,” he said.
Didulica was placed on a 12month good behaviour bond, without conviction, with a condition that he pay $500 to the court fund.