A Queensland man has been sentenced to nine years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to manslaughter and interfering with a corpse in a case described by the Supreme Court as one of the most disturbing it had encountered.
Nikola Golem was sentenced in the Supreme Court of Queensland after admitting he left the body of his 69-year-old stepfather, Tomislav Nemes, inside the family's Benowa home on the Gold Coast for approximately 14 months following his death. Police eventually discovered the man's mummified remains during a welfare check in April 2023.
The court heard that Mr Nemes suffered from several serious medical conditions, including diabetes, hypertension and chronic back pain. He and his wife had become reluctant to seek conventional medical treatment, preferring alternative remedies because of their religious beliefs as Jehovah's Witnesses. As his health deteriorated, Mr Nemes became largely bedridden after a fall in 2021.
Justice Rebecca Treston said the victim had been "quite simply left to rot," describing the circumstances following his death as extremely difficult to comprehend. The court heard there was no evidence that Golem intentionally caused his stepfather's death, but his failure to seek medical assistance and his actions afterwards formed the basis of the manslaughter charge.
One of the most shocking aspects of the case involved Golem's treatment of his mother, Dragica Nemes, whom the court described as mentally fragile. Rather than informing her that her husband had died, Golem repeatedly told her that doctors had advised rest and herbal treatment. As a result, she continued sleeping beside her husband's body until decomposition caused a strong odour.
The deception continued for more than a year. During that time, Golem also removed Mr Nemes' mobile phone, effectively cutting him off from family members living interstate. His daughters became increasingly concerned after months without contact and eventually requested police conduct a welfare check at the Benowa property. That welfare check led officers to discover the mummified remains.
In emotional victim impact statements, Mr Nemes' daughters described years of confusion after repeatedly trying to contact their father. They said they had been given numerous false explanations about his whereabouts and only learned the truth after police entered the home. The family said they continue to struggle with the knowledge that their father died alone and remained undiscovered for such a long period.
During sentencing, Golem's lawyer argued that his client had suffered a significant brain injury during infancy and had made extremely poor decisions while attempting to protect his emotionally vulnerable mother. The defence also pointed to Golem's remorse and existing health problems.
Because Golem has already spent about three years in custody awaiting trial, the court ruled he will become eligible for parole next month, despite receiving a nine-year prison sentence.
The case has attracted widespread attention across Queensland due to its extraordinary circumstances and the prolonged deception that prevented relatives from learning of Mr Nemes' death. It also highlights the importance of welfare checks when vulnerable people lose contact with family and friends.
