Former Queanbeyan Blues forward Elijah Ngata’s bid to avoid deportation over vicious assault

A rugby league player and former professional boxer who drank a litre of vodka at a first birthday party before almost killing a man at a nightclub has launched a bid to avoid deportation.

Ilaisa-taka-i-m Ngata, also known as Elijah Ngata, was sentenced over a vicious attack on two men at a Canberra nightclub. Picture: Facebook

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A rugby league thug and former professional boxer who picked a fight in a Canberra nightclub and who king hit a good Samaritan on the footpath outside has launched a bid to avoid being deported after he is released from jail.

Ilaisa-Taka-I-Monu Ngata, also known as Elijah Ngata, was in January sentenced to 19 months jail, to be suspended after three months served, after pleading guilty to assault and recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Ngata, a New Zealand citizen who came to Australia to play rugby league and work as a security guard, drank a litre of vodka at his youngest son’s first birthday party in May 2019 before going to Monkey Bar on Bunda St, where he assaulted his first victim in the early hours of the morning and belted his second victim with “disturbing … ease and violence”.

Ngata’s second victim nearly died on the way to hospital, was on life support for two days and told the court in a victim impact statement he remains angry and anxious more than six months on from the attack.

Former professional boxer Elijah Ngata has lauched a bid to avoid deportation. Picture: Facebook

Ilaisa-taka-i-m Ngata, also known as Elijah Ngata, has been described as a “steadying influence” on his children.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton is almost certain to deport the former Queanbeyan Blues forward and superheavyweight boxer because Justice David Mossop sentenced him to more than 12 months jail.

Ngata was described by friends in character references as “a man of integrity and a man of honour” and by his boss as a reliable and reputable security guard.

Ngata’s former partner, and mother of two of his children, described him as a supportive father who is a “steadying influence” on his children.

Documents filed with the ACT Court of Appeal earlier this month show Ngata’s legal team want the Territory’s highest court to sentence him to less than 12 months jail, arguing Justice Mossop “failed to take into account, either adequately or at all” the evidence of a migration agent that Ngata’s visa would be cancelled if he was sentenced to more than a year in jail.

Mr Dutton has previously said he has “little to no tolerance for the continuing presence in Australia for visa holders who committing serious and violent crimes”.

Ngata’s legal team also argue the Justice Mossop wrongly rejected Ngata’s history of depression as contributing to his thuggish attack on his two victims.

Ngata’s appeal proceedings are expected to be heard in coming months.