Axe, machete, knife used in horror home invasion at Wallaby great’s house
Wallabies legend Toutai Kefu remains in hospital with severe stab wounds sustained in terrifying home invasion allegedly carried out by three teens. But cops say it could have been much worse if it hadn’t been for the heroics of neighbours.
Police & Courts
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A boy has been charged with attempted murder and another remains in hospital under guard after a trio of teens allegedly attacked Wallabies legend Toutai Kefu, his wife and adult children with an axe, a machete and a knife in a horror home invasion.
The Queensland Reds great is expected to survive severe stab wounds to his abdomen, after he was rushed to hospital to undergo emergency surgery on Monday.
His wife, their son and daughter were also badly injured in the attack, which police say could have been worse but for the intervention of heroic neighbours.
Police on Monday located a third teen but it is unclear whether he will face charges.
In explosive comments, Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers on Monday claimed a lack of police resources had left the inner south suburb with “no local police patrols at all” at the weekend.
Detective Superintendent Tony Fleming said the incident unfolded at 3.15am when one of the family members – understood to have possibly been Kefu’s wife, Rachel – got up to investigate after hearing noises from inside their Coorparoo home.
Mrs Kefu was allegedly “accosted” by one of the juveniles, who told her to hand over their car keys or she would be stabbed.
“Other members of the family came to that person’s aid and during this time very significant injuries occurred to the family as a result of what we will allege is the actions of the offenders who have broken into the family’s home,” Superintendent Fleming said.
Mrs Kefu suffered serious injuries to her arm, while the couple’s 21-year-old son suffered stab wounds to his arm and back. Their 18-year-old daughter was treated for cuts to her hand and arm.
The mother and daughter are expected to undergo surgery on Tuesday.
Superintendent Fleming said neighbours ran in to help, and along with members of the Kefu family managed to restrain one of the youths allegedly involved in the incident until police arrived.
The Courier-Mail understands police will allege one of the neighbours tackled one of the teens to the ground while he was still wielding a knife.
“The neighbours and the family came to the aid of each other – and whilst the outcome is absolutely tragic and I’m appalled by the injuries this family have suffered whilst inside their own home in the middle of the night – all credit to all of those people for coming to the aid of each other,” Superintendent Fleming said.
Police will allege the trio had earlier stolen a car from a home in Forest Lake, pushing a woman to the ground before making off with a Hyundai iX35.
They then drove to Coorparoo where they allegedly attempted to steal a car from the Kefu family.
Superintendent Fleming said a second teen was taken into custody when he was dropped at the Princess Alexandra Hospital with a stab wound to his back.
The first teen – a 15-year-old Goodna boy – has been charged with four counts of attempted murder, three counts of assault causing grievous bodily harm and one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, break and enter, burglary and deprivation of liberty.
He was refused bail.
Speaking generally, Superintendent Fleming said police were frustrated by juvenile offenders who were repeatedly before the courts and had little regard for other people and their safety.
Mr Leavers yesterday unleashed on “very senior police” he said left the suburb of Coorparoo without any visible police presence for the weekend. “I can confirm that owing to the mismanagement … in Brisbane’s inner east and inner south, the suburb of Coorparoo had no day or afternoon shifts of any police for all of Saturday and Sunday,” he said.
“To make matters worse, when the Coorparoo police night shift called in sick (Sunday) night before the start of the shift, they were not replaced.”
A QPS spokesperson said neighbouring stations were able to assist with any calls for service in Coorparoo.
“Police were on scene of the Coorparoo incident within six minutes,” the spokesperson said.
“South Brisbane District tasking and co-ordination centre continually assesses and triages operational demand accordingly.”
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