Cairns crime: Isaac Stacey Lemalu, son of convicted murderer Isaac Junior Lemalu Lafaele, appears in Cairns court after assault on cab driver

The son of a convicted Cairns murderer acted ‘out of character’ when he assaulted a taxi driver outside a Cairns club. The judge was told of his troubled childhood.

THE son of a man convicted of murder acted out of character when he assaulted a taxi driver at Edmonton and had otherwise overcome a troubled childhood, Cairns District Court heard on Thursday.

Isaac Stacey Lemalu, 23, pleaded guilty to common assault in a public place at night while adversely affected by alcohol, unlawful entry, public nuisance and obstructing police.

Crown prosecutor Peter Ah Gee showed the court a video where Mr Lemalu was seen to punch a taxi driver through the window of the vehicle, before a scuffle ensued out the front of the Fuller Sports Club.

Mr Ah Gee said the assault was entirely unprovoked and Mr Lemalu resisted police efforts to put him in the paddy wagon during the incident last September.

Mr Lemalu’s barrister Michael Dalton said his client was normally a quiet, family-oriented man in a stable job, with a long-term partner and young child.

“He got very, very drunk, he just doesn’t remember it … he is deeply embarrassed and ashamed and regrets his conduct,” Mr Dalton said.

Mr Lemalu wrote letters of apology to the taxi driver, the club, the police and the court.

The court heard he had engaged with ATODS and now only drank in moderation.

Mr Dalton said Mr Lemalu had managed to find his way through a difficult childhood and one of 10 children with both parents addicted to alcohol and methamphetamine.

There were periods of homelessness and his father jailed for murder when Mr Lemalu was 16 years old.

“Despite these challenges, he has succeeded in life,” Mr Dalton said.

Judge Orazio Rinaudo said he was sure Mr Lemalu was horrified by his own behaviour.

He said seeking mental help to deal with childhood issues was a good idea.

“Your history does not suggest you have a significant mental health problem, it really is out of character offending,” Judge Rinaudo said.

He sentenced Mr Lemalu to 12 months’ probation and 40 hours community service with no conviction recorded.

Mr Lemalu’s father Isaac Junior Lemalu Lafaele was drunk and high on ice when he stabbed Gavin McLean in the left eye with a butter knife on May 27, 2015 at a Manoora unit.

Mr McLean was flown to Townsville Hospital and died 11 days later.

He claimed he acted in self defence but was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2016.

His subsequent appeal against the conviction was dismissed.

Originally published as Cairns crime: Isaac Stacey Lemalu, son of convicted murderer Isaac Junior Lemalu Lafaele, appears in Cairns court after assault on cab driver