Double tragedy for guard’s family

The two teenage sons of the Countdown security guard killed on the job were already grieving for their grandparents, who were tragically killed just six months earlier.

Goran Milosavljevic had lived in New Zealand for six years, faithfully sending money back home for years to support his family in Serbia.

Six months ago Milosavljevic went home to Serbia for a holiday, and was dropped off at the airport for his flight back to New Zealand by his parents.

While he was in the air, his parents died in a traffic accident at Bubanj Potok, near Belgrade, according to Serbian news outlet Kurir. His 14-year-old son was also in the car but survived.

Milosavljevic’s sons had come to New Zealand to live with their father only two months ago.

The eldest son, who spoke to Stuff but asked not to be named, said the pair now had no family left. ‘‘Nobody – everyone else died.’’

He said he wasn’t sure what decisions to make now that he and his brother had lost their father, but they intended to try to make a life for themselves in New Zealand.

‘‘We have some cousins in Serbia. We will go to Serbia maybe for a short time and then we will come back and continue our lives.’’

Goran Milosavljevic died after being allegedly punched in the head outside a Countdown supermarket in Papakura in south Auckland.

A teenager appeared in the Papakura District Court on Thursday afternoon and was granted interim name suppression until his next appearance in the High Court at Auckland on May 23.

New Zealanders affected by the latest tragedy to hit the Milosavljevic family have been posting tributes and condolence messages outside the Countdown store.

Some customers have also posted tributes to Neighbourly saying Milosavljevic always greeted customers with a smile.

Milosavljevic’s son said he had seen the pictures and tributes outside the supermarket where his father worked. ‘‘The people know what a man he was.’’

In his eyes, Milosavljevic had always known what to do. His father was a man who made decisions quickly, and almost every decision he made somehow always seemed to be the right one in the end, he said.

"He was the best, really was the best.’’