03-06-2025
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.
