Second teenager charges as Toutai Kefu recovers after family attacked in Coorparoo home invasion

Toutai Kefu’s daughter has opened up about her father’s fight back from horrific injuries as a 13-year-old boy is charged over the terrifying home invasion.

The daughter of Wallabies legend Toutai Kefu has taken to social media to reassure people that her father is “recovering well” after a horror home invasion.

It comes as a 13-year-old boy is charged over the incident in which Kefu, his wife and two of their children were allegedly attacked by three youths who broke into their home wielding an axe, a machete and a knife in order to steal a car.

Kefu was rushed to hospital in a critical condition after suffering severe wounds to his abdomen, while his wife Rachel was left with a severely injured arm.

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Toutai Kefu is recovering in hospital after he was attacked during a horror home invasion at his Coorparoo home. Picture: Marc Robertson

Their 21-year-old son was stabbed in the arm and back and an 18-year-old daughter also had injuries to her arm and hand.

Another daughter – who was not injured in the incident – said her dad and brother had undergone surgery and were “recovering well”.

“(My sister) and mum will have their operations this morning,” she wrote.

“Thankyou to everyone for all the kind messages and support. It means the absolute world to us.”

A 15-year-old boy from Goodna was on Monday 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.

On Tuesday, a 13-year-old boy was charged with one count each of burglary and unlawful use of motor vehicle related to the Forest Lake matter.

“Police will allege the 13-year-old boy was involved in a burglary and unlawful use of a silver Hyundai SUV from a residence in Flinders Cres, Forest Lake, around 2.15am (Monday),” a police statement said.

The Hyundai was driven to the Kefu home where it is alleged the trio attempted to steal another car.

“Police have further charged the 13-year-old boy with burglary for his involvement in the burglary and wounding incident at Coorparoo (on Monday),” the statement said.

The Hyundai has not been found.

The 13-year-old appeared before the Brisbane Children’s Court on Tuesday where he was remanded in custody.

Meanwhile, Brisbane Region Assistant Commissioner Brian Swan has responded to criticism from the Queensland Police Union over the lack of a police presence in Coorparoo in the lead up to the home invasion.

Assistant Commissioner Swan said while there were some issues with sick leave on Sunday night at the Coorparoo station, he was “very comfortable” with the police response and the call of the duty officer that night.

“We had something like 39 operational police officers on duty, mobile in the patrol groups around Coorparoo division between the hours of 10pm and 4am,” he said.

“The response time of our first response police was six minutes from receiving the phone call from help and within 10 minutes we had something like six units on scene …”

Police investigating the Coorparoo home invasion. Picture: Tara Croser.

Assistant Commissioner Swan said six minutes was a “very quick response” and was actually 1.5 minutes quicker than the usual response time in that area.

He stressed that crews were not confined to a specific location or division, unless there was a particular need.

Assistant Commissioner Swan said the incident on Monday morning was “horrific”.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Kefu family who I understand are still recovering in hospital,” he said.

It comes as residents living near the scene of the home invasion reveal how crime has gripped their suburbs in recent years.

Camp Hill resident Mitchell Rowing said he had spent between $3000 and $4000 on securing his home after his car was stolen last year.

“I’ve lived in the area for 30 years, about a year ago my own home got broken into and I had my vehicle stolen,” he said.

“It got ditched down in Chambers Flat, they never caught the offenders.”

Like the attack on the Kefu family, Mr Rowing’s wife and two children were home when his car was stolen in the early hours of the morning.

Camp Hill resident Mitchell Rowing says he has spent thousands on securing his home after his car was stolen last year. Picture: Tara Croser.

“I’ve seen more and more in the local community pages, seemingly every day, that there has been a car stolen or a house has been broken into.”

He said he installed the security system and alarm for “peace of mind” after his encounter.

“Only in the last day or two I’ve had people ask who did my camera.”

Mr Rowing said he would often see Mr Kefu around the area, describing him as a “well respected gentle giant.”

“It’s a really terrible attack in someone’s home.”