Latest news with #ToutaiKefu
9 News
21 hours ago
- 9 News
Anger over sentence appeal for 'war zone' attack on former Wallaby and his family
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here BREAKING Major Sydney tunnel closed after crane truck rolls over A neighbour who helped stop a horror attack on a former Wallabies star's family wants the justice system overhauled after an appeal over the teen offenders' "inadequate" sentence failed. Ben Cannon came to the aid of Toutai Kefu and his family when they were attacked by two 15-year-old boys in August 2021, in a Brisbane home invasion that resembled a "war zone". The former Australian and Queensland Reds rugby player suffered a "life-threatening" 25mm liver wound, his wife Rachel remains partially disabled after being cut to the bone by a sickle and two of their children were injured. The former Australian and Queensland Reds rugby player suffered a "life threatening" 25mm liver wound, his wife Rachel remains partially disabled after being cut to the bone by a sickle and two of their children were injured. (9News) Cannon tackled one teen and pinned him until police arrived. One boy was sentenced to eight years and the other seven after pleading guilty to charges including malicious act with intent. They were only required to serve 50 per cent of their sentences and did not have convictions recorded. Then attorney-general Yvette D'Ath launched an appeal in 2024 against the "manifestly inadequate" sentences. But the Court of Appeal today dismissed it after the state failed to prove the sentences were inadequate. Cannon said it was shocking, but not surprising. Toutai Kefu and his family were attacked in their Brisbane home. (Today) "The news in a sad way, it's not unexpected," he said. "It seems like the system has more tolerance for injustice than it does for justice and it seems to always favour those who commit the crimes." The attorney-general needed to persuade the appeal judges the sentences were disproportionate to the offending. But counsel failed to put forward any comparable cases to provide a yardstick of the appropriate sentencing range, the appeal judges said. Broadly comparable cases show under 10 years imprisonment was "not out of the range" of sentences that could have been imposed, the appeal judges ruled. The state government had argued the period of detention ordered for the boys was also manifestly inadequate. Toutai Kefu in action for the Wallabies in Brisbane in 2003. (Getty) The sentencing judge had said the teens' lack of criminal history, rehabilitation efforts and personal circumstances led him to reduce the period of detention from 70 per cent to 50 per cent. But the appeal judges found the attorney-general failed to establish the sentencing judge made an error in his decision-making. In not recording a conviction, the sentencing judge used his discretion to consider the nature of the offence, the teen's age, previous convictions and whether it would impact the chance of rehabilitation or employment. The sentencing judge had said the teens' lack of criminal history, rehabilitation efforts and personal circumstances led him to reduce the period of detention from 70 per cent to 50 per cent. (Nine) The attorney-general needed to establish that the judge was unreasonable and had argued that convictions should have been recorded to reflect the gravity of the offending. Again, the appeal judges dismissed this, standing by the principle that children are entitled to the benefit of not having a conviction recorded to assist with their rehabilitation. Cannon said the decision had put a fire in his belly and would inspire him to do more with his advocacy group, Voice for Victims. "This shows the system needs a total upheaval," he said. "We need a system that understands that unless we catch these kids earlier and we steer them in a different direction ... then we will end up with more and more victims." Asked whether there would have been different sentences if the Liberal National government's landmark "adult crime, adult time" laws introduced last year had been in effect, Cannon was sceptical. He said many legal experts - including judges - seemed to be lost in what the "adult crime, adult time" sentencing provisions actually mean. "Justice shouldn't be grey. It should be black and white," he said. crime courts Brisbane rugby Australia national CONTACT US Auto news: Google Gemini AI assistant coming to new cars in 2025.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Victim's fury as teenagers who almost stabbed footy legend Toutai Kefu to death in savage home invasion have a HUGE win in court
A pair of teenagers who invaded the home of Wallabies legend Toutai Kefu and stabbed him and his wife have had a huge legal win after a court ruled they should not receive more jail time or have convictions recorded against them. In June last year the two teens - who cannot be named for legal reasons - were convicted of storming into Kefu's Brisbane home on August 16, 2021 in an attempt to steal cars. Kefu's wife Rachel disturbed them in the early hours of the morning. She and Toutai were both stabbed, as was their son Joshua and daughter Madison. The Wallabies legend suffered life-threatening injuries and his wife's arm was cut to the bone. The pair were jailed for seven and eight years with no convictions recorded, with Justice Peter Davis ruling the pair had to serve half of those sentences before they could be released. That meant one of the teens would have been eligible to be freed within six months of being convicted. The Queensland attorney-general lost an appeal against the sentences when three judges in the state's Court of Appeal made their ruling on Tuesday. The judges ruled the teens should not have convictions recorded and said the attorney-general had failed to prove the sentences were manifestly inadequate. One teen who only stabbed Mr Kefu served his sentence and is now free, while the other boy is due to be released on August 18. Ben Cannon - a neighbour of the Kefus who was assaulted by the teens when he came to the family's aid - lashed out at the appeal verdict on Tuesday. 'The news in a sad way, it's not unexpected,' he said. 'It seems like the system has more tolerance for injustice than it does for justice and it seems to always favour those who commit the crimes. 'This shows the system needs a total upheaval,' he said. 'We need a system that understands that unless we catch these kids earlier and we steer them in a different direction ... then we will end up with more and more victims.' Rachel Kefu disturbed the intruders at 3.10am, with her screams awakening her husband, who jumped over a banister from the upstairs bedroom to defend his wife. Both teenagers attacked him, but only one was found to have stabbed him in the chest. The knife penetrated 25mm into his liver. The other assailant attacked Rachel, cutting her with a sickle after they offered him their car keys, giving them the opportunity to leave the home. 'We want the keys to the car or we will hurt her,' the teens said at the time of the attack. The couple's son Joshua, who was 21 at the time, also suffered deep cuts to his back and arm, as well as a dislocated shoulder, where their 18-year-old daughter Madison's hand was cut. 'The sickle cut Mrs Kefu literally to the bone, so I mean quite apart from the fact that it looks like a fairly wicked weapon,' Justice Davis said, adding that the inside of the home looked like a 'war zone' with blood 'splashed and smeared' throughout the property. The pair of teens were initially charged with attempted murder but the charges were downgraded following a plea-deal. Both juveniles pleaded guilty to seven charges, including four counts of malicious act with intent, burglary and unlawful use of a motor vehicle. One of the teens pleaded guilty to two further charges, including the assault of Cannon. 'I constantly experience flashbacks of the crime and I am still plagued by the graphic memories of my family fighting for lives, to survive, that night,' Rachel Kefu told the court before the boys were sentenced.
ABC News
a day ago
- General
- ABC News
Teens who attacked Toutai Kefu and family in their Brisbane home have sentences upheld following appeal
Queensland's attorney-general has failed to appeal the sentences handed to two teenagers who attacked former rugby great Toutai Kefu and his family during a home invasion. Last year the two boys, who were aged 15 at the time of the incident, were sentenced over the 2021 break-in at Coorparoo, after pleading guilty to several offences including multiple counts of malicious acts with intent. They were both given less than 10 years in detention, and had no convictions recorded. The then attorney-general Yvette D'Ath launched an appeal on the grounds the sentences were manifestly inadequate. During a hearing held in the Court of Appeal earlier this year, prosecutors argued the sentencing judge did not have regard to the maximum penalty for some of the offences, which were deemed "particularly heinous". Under Queensland youth justice laws at the time, it meant the teenagers could face a punishment of up to and including life in prison. In a published judgement, three Court of Appeal judges found "no error had been established" by the attorney-general in relation to the sentencing judge's consideration of an appropriate term of detention.
RNZ News
26-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Tana Umaga to coach against British and Irish Lions in Australia
Moana Pasifika head coach Fa'alogo Tana Umaga , 2025. Photo: Brett Phibbs / Moana Pasifika mentor Tana Umaga will coach against the British and Irish Lions in Australia in July. Umaga will be one of Toutai Kefu's assistants for the historic First Nations & Pasifika Invitational XV match against the Lions in Melbourne on 22 July. Former Wallaby forward and Tonga coach Kefu was confirmed as Head Coach last week. His coaching staff will include leaders representing Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and First Nations communities. The son of Samoan parents, Umaga represented the All Blacks in 74 Tests before embarking on a successful 16-year career as coach across teams in France, New Zealand and the Pacific. Wallabies stalwart and Shimizu Blue Sharks coach Sekope Kepu will also serve as an Assistant Coach. Kepu was born in Sydney to Tongan parents and went on to represent the Wallabies in 110 Tests between 2008 and 2019 in addition to provincial stints in France, the UK, New Zealand and Australia. Former Fiji Test forward and coach Simon Raiwalui is also included along with Wallaby No. 621 Glen Ella, a Yuin and Bidjigal man representing the First Nations community. Ella, one of three brothers to have represented the Wallabies, has previously held down mentor roles with Australia and Canada. Les Kiss was named as the AUNZ Invitational XV head coach and will be assisted by former All Blacks boss Ian Foster. Kiss, the Queensland Reds coach, will take over the Wallabies coaching role from Joe Schmidt in 2026. British and Irish Lions 2025 Tour of Australia 28 June - Western Force v British & Irish Lions, Optus Stadium, Perth 2 July -Queensland Reds v British & Irish Lions, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane 5 July - New South Wales Waratahs v British & Irish Lions, Allianz Stadium, Sydney 9 July - ACT Brumbies v British & Irish Lions, GIO Stadium, Canberra 12 July - AUNZ Invitational XV v British & Irish Lions, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide 19 July Wallabies v British & Irish Lions, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane 22 July - First Nations & Pasifika XV v British & Irish Lions, Marvel Stadium, Melbourne 26 July - Wallabies v British & Irish Lions, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne 2 August - Wallabies v British & Irish Lions, Accor Stadium, Sydney
Washington Post
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Umaga joins Kefu on coaching team for the First Nations and Pasifika team to take on the Lions
BRISBANE, Australia — The First Nations and Pasifika squad to take on the British and Irish Lions in July will have an experienced coaching staff representative of the region, led by former Wallabies forward and Tonga coach Toutai Kefu and including ex-All Blacks captain Tana Umaga. Kefu was appointed last week as head coach and Rugby Australia confirmed the rest of the coaching team on Monday, including Umaga, former Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu, former Wallabies fullback Glen Ella and former Fiji test forward and coach Simon Raiwalui.
