Fruit picker Manu Vi walks free over fatal punch in ethnicity blowout

A judge has told a fruit picker to try and make up for the harm he caused after he walked from court over his sickening punch that killed his work colleague. Watch the fatal fight.

A man has walked free from court for the brutal punch of his colleague who was left untreated in his cabin for two days.

Manu Vi, 26, was behind the fatal blow that killed his co-worker after a fight over not being allowed in a cabin because of his ethnicity.

The victim, a 29-year-old Vanuatu national, was punched just after midnight on August 2, 2020 at Paringa, 260km northeast of Adelaide.

The Adelaide District Court on Tuesday heard there was a dispute between Vi and another man during celebrations for Vanuatu Independence Day.

The court heard Vi was told he was not welcome in the cabin because he was Tongan.

Manu Vi, 26, outside court

Still image of the fight where Manu Vi inflicted a fatal punch that killed his work colleague. Picture: Court Registry

“A mellay broke out between the two groups of men ... generally between those from Tonga and those from Vanuatu,” Judge Rauf Soulio said during sentencing.

Vi punched the victim who was on the ground in a kneeling position and then walked away.

However, as the fight continued Vi circled back and punched the victim again to the head.

“He fell to the ground and struck the back of his head on the concrete path,” Judge Soulio said.

“He was rendered unconscious.”

The victim did not go to work on Monday and was found unresponsive in his cabin that night.

He was taken to hospital and succumbed to his injuries nine days later.

The Tongan man pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Still image of the victim on the ground after Vi’s fatal punch. Picture: Court Registry

The victim’s sister provided a victim impact statement which was read to the court last month.

“I looked at him as my brother but also as a father to my kids,” she said.

“I miss him every single day, I cry over him every day.

“The pain never stops. He was everything to me.”

The court heard the victim had left a daughter behind.

“You attempted to apologise to him after you had sobered up ... you were shocked when you were told by police days later that he was unlikely to survive and then ultimately he had passed away,” Judge Soulio said.

The court heard Vi had been “racked with guilt and remorse” ever since.

Judge Soulio sentenced Vi to four years and three month jail, with a non-parole period of three years and four months.

“It’s important to highlight the need to avoid such behaviour because of the tragic consequences which may follow,” he said.

The sentence was partially suspended on a three-year, $10,000 good behaviour bond after Vi had served one year and eight months.

Vi had been in custody since August 4, 2020, meaning he was allowed to walk free from court.

“I hope you get the chance to make up for the harm you’ve caused another family by the way you live the rest of your life,” Judge Soulio said.