Father-to-be Donatien Tupuhi assaults two, claims they had ‘beef’ with his family

A Redbank Plains father-to-be pleaded guilty to two alcohol-fuelled assaults in court on Tuesday.

A young man has faced court after punching a man in the face because he allegedly had a “beef” with his family.

Donatien Tupuhi faced Ipswich Magistrates Court Tuesday, claiming his victims had offended members of his family.

He pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm and one count of common assault.

The court heard Tupuhi punched a man in the face on May 8, 2021 in Booval, resulting in the victim requiring seven stitches.

Tupuhi punched a second victim on July 23 2021 in Springfield Central, asking: “Do you have beef with my brother?.”

The victim replied: “I don’t even know your brother.”

Tupuhi’s defence lawyer, Matthew Fairclough, said “alcohol seems to be explanation” for both offences.

Magistrate David Shepherd dismissed Tupuhi’s “excuses” of the victims having allegedly offended his family.

“If the alcohol affects you in that way, then you need to manage that,” the magistrate said.

This was Tupuhi’s first appearance before the court for such a matter.

The court heard he and his partner were expecting a child.

“The community will simply not tolerate the use of violence by young people,” Magistrate Shepherd said to the father-to-be.

“If you keep this up, you will go to jail.”

Tupuhi was sentenced to 12 months’ probation and convictions were not recorded.