Judge slams actions of Elijah Fiti Fuli in Brisbane CDB armed robbery

A judge has slammed the actions of a teenager after he was involved in robbing people on a Brisbane CBD bridge at knifepoint. He was then involved in more violent robberies in the days after.

A teenager who robbed a child at knife-point on Victoria Bridge and a group of people in the Botanic Gardens was given immediateparole after being sentenced to two years.

Three teenagers were walking across the Victoria Bridge that connects the city to South Bank in September 2021 when they were confronted by a group containing Elijah Fiti Fuli, then 18.

Brisbane’s District Court heard on Tuesday that a 14-year-old was threatened with a knife and handed over cash and his school ID during the robbery.

Victoria Bridge in Brisbane, where the robbery took place.

A 17-year-old was punched and handed over some cash, a gold chain and his sneakers.

A 15-year-old victim was hit in the jaw sending his glasses flying into the river below.

Fuli pleaded guilty to two counts of armed robbery and one count of common assault on the basis that he was a party to the offences, not the primary offender.

“He’s a big bully,” Judge Paul Smith said.

“Going around picking on younger kids it’s terrible, you should feel ashamed of yourself.

“People should be allowed to walk on the Victoria Bridge without being accosted.”

Fuli committed several more robberies, that he was previously sentenced for, in the days following, the court heard.

In one instance Fuli, in a group, approached people walking through the City Botanic Gardens at night.

“Personal violence was used and a knife was used to threaten and then steal property,” crown prosecutor Daniel Sampey said.

For that offence and two other robberies, a dangerous operation of a vehicle and an unlawful use of a motor vehicle, Fuli was sentenced to three years jail on October 17 with a parole release date on that day.

Barrister Lachlan Ygoa-McKeown said it was unclear why police had waited a year to charge his client for the offences currently before the court.

Mr Ygoa-McKeown described a difficult upbringing for Fuli which included a drunk and violent father and his client later falling in with the wrong crowd and the use of drugs.

He said the robberies occurred just six weeks after Fuli turned 18.

Since being in custody Fuli had engaged with prison mental health services and undertaken drug and alcohol courses, he said.

Judge Smith said he took into account Fuli was a party to the offence and was there “encouraging” his co-accused.

Fuli was sentenced to two years prison with a parole release date of Tuesday July 11.

However Fuli remained in custody on a separate robbery charge, the court heard.