Wynnum junior footy fight: Two men in court apply for bail
Two sets of brothers charged with grievous bodily harm after Brisbane footy dad Josh Jones was allegedly bashed at a junior game have applied for bail. WATCH THE VIDEO
Southeast
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Four men charged after allegedly being involved in a junior football assault which left a man hospitalised with severe facial injuries have applied for bail in court on Thursday.
Crestmead brothers Griffith Lilomaiava, 19, and Talapuse Tuialii, 36, were both arrested on Tuesday and charged with grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning bodily harm following the alleged incident Wynnum’s Kitchener Park on Sunday during an Under-13 Division 1 game between Wynnum-Manly and Logan Brothers.
Mr Tuialii was also charged with a second count of assault occasioning bodily harm.
Video of the incident was made public during the week; however, there is no suggestion those charged can been seen in the footage.
Two other men, Slacks Creek brothers-in-law Solomona Solomona, 26, and Barry Vaiola Sepulona, 24, were arrested on Wednesday and also applied for bail.
Both were charged with grievous bodily harm, while one was also charged with assault occasioning bodily harm relating to the alleged victim Josh Jones’ father, Ricki.
The two sets of brothers were not known to each other, the court heard.
Mr Tuialii and Mr Lilomaiava both applied for bail via solicitor Kurt McDonald.
The court heard the alleged assault was touched off by Mr Tuialii and Mr Lilomaiava, who were seated behind Mr Jones.
Snr Const Ross told the court there had been “friendly banter” between Mr Jones and the two co-defendant brothers, seated behind him, for most of the game, until the duo allegedly became “aggressive and intimidating” towards Mr Jones once Logan Brothers’ lead blew out.
Mr Jones, Mr Tuialii and Mr Lilomaiava exchanged words, before Mr Tuialii put his arms around Mr Jones, whispered in his ear, “You better get out of here,” before he and Mr Lilomaiava “punched and kicked” Mr Jones, sending him “flying to the bottom” of the grandstand, taking out a 59-year-old in the process, Snr Const Ross said.
Snr Const Ross told the court Mr Jones then “fled” onto the field to get away from Mr Tuialii and Mr Lilomaiava.
Mr Lilomaiava, as well as Mr Solomona and Mr Sepulona, then “pursued” Mr Jones onto the field, the court heard, allegedly laying into him with a series of punches and kicks.
Mr Tuialii had been physically restrained initially from joining the “melee” on the field, before he allegedly broke free and delivered “at least one” punch to the back of Mr Jones’ head, the court heard.
Snr Const Ross told the court this punch was the one which felled Mr Jones, leaving him “more susceptible” the alleged flurry of “kicks and stomps” which broke both of Mr Jones’ eye sockets, his nose and his cheekbone.
The stomps were allegedly delivered by Mr Lilomaiava, four of them while Mr Jones was struggling on the ground and a fifth while he was lying unconscious.
Snr Const Ross described the case against Mr Tuialii and Mr Lilomaiava, who live together, as “compelling”, noting “distinctive” clothing was found at their residence during a search warrant on Tuesday, as well as a vehicle seen leaving the field in the aftermath of the alleged assault.
Defence lawyer Kurt McDonald indicated the matter would likely be headed to trial for a jury to determine which defendant was responsible for which injuries.
He noted Mr Tuialii and Mr Lilomaiava were both New Zealand citizens and may be facing action from the Department of Immigration should they be convicted.
He noted Mr Tuialii was the sole breadwinner for his wife and five children.
Mr McDonald further noted both men held down steady jobs through which they could contribute to the community.
Mr Tuialli was denied bail in light of a previous conviction in 2009 for assault occasioning bodily harm.
Mr Lilomaiava was granted bail to reside at an address in Marsden on conditions including that he surrender his passport, report seven days a week to police, and not attend within 50m of an organised sporting event.
Mr Solomona and Mr Sepulona were represented by defence lawyer Tam Elabbasi.
Snr Const Ross submitted Mr Sepulona’s actions were more serious than his brother-in-law’s.
Mr Sepulona is alleged to have delivered the kick to the face, while Mr Jones was struggling to get up from the ground, which was so violent it made a “cracking” noise and knocked him unconscious.
Snr Const Ross told the court Mr Sepulona had attempted to change his appearance since the alleged assault via cutting his hair, which police had intercepted social media messages to support.
Mr Elabbasi said identity may be an issue in the case against Mr Sepulona, and argued he was no flight risk due to his seized passport, wife and young child – however, his bail was denied due to the allegations of attempting to change his appearance.
His older brother-in-law, however, was granted bail.
His involvement in the alleged assault was described as being least, limited to allegedly holding Mr Jones while others assaulted him.
Magistrate Zachary Sarra, who said the alleged assault was a “feeding frenzy” with an “intense degree of violence”, described Mr Solomona as the only one who came out of the incident with any credit due to his extensive admissions to police.
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