Apii-James ‘AJ’ Rata sentenced after Rouse Hill stabbing

A builder who was part of a brawl and punched a boy at a party in Sydney’s west after being refused entry thought he could “fight his way out of it,” a court has heard.

A builder who was part of a brawl and punched a boy at a party after being refused entry thought he could “fight his way out of it,” a court has heard.

Emergency services were called to a home on Cornell Place in Rouse Hill about 9.30pm on March 6 after reports of a melee at a 22nd birthday party which saw a man being allegedly stabbed.

Hills police arrived on scene where they found a 22-year-old Nicholas Wright with a stab wound to his back.

Apii-James Rata fronts Parramatta Local Court at an earlier court appearance

He was treated by paramedics and rushed to Westmead Hospital for surgery.

Following investigations, one man and two boys were charged over assault.

Apii-James ‘AJ’ Rata, 18, from Kellyville, fronted Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday for his sentence.

Rata, who was accompanied by his stepfather, pleaded guilty to common assault and assault occasioning harm in April.

Rata and two friends had intended to go to another party on Highlands Way but they were refused entry so they tried to get into another party at Cornell Close, according to agreed facts.

They were approached by Nicholas Wright and asked to leave but an argument later ensued with him and another guest who was punched in the face.

The host Leighton Vella, 22, then approached Rata and his friends asking them to leave before he was punched by one of the co-accused, according to facts.

Blood and clothing left at the scene. Picture: 7 News

Mr Wright then said: “Go back to Penrith you dog c***s” before one of the co-accused allegedly pulled out a knife out of his pocket, according to facts.

Rata punched another man, Jason Pellizer, 23, with a closed fist to his right eye causing him to be disorientated, facts state.

He and his two friends then ran towards Mr Wright where they punched and kicked him, according to facts.

Mr Wright ran but was allegedly stabbed by another co-accused and yelled, “I’ve been stabbed in the back”.

In court, his lawyer said that Rata had finished school after Year 10 to work as a builder.

He said a letter of apology tendered to the court showed Rata was “remorseful” and asked for a conviction not to be recorded.

During sentencing, Magistrate Rodney Brender said the facts were “concerning.”

“You went to a party which you were denied entry with several co-accused and punched somebody with a closed fist to their eye causing marks and bruising,” he told the court.

The court heard he was involved in the assault of Mr Wright who was punched and kicked.

Magistrate Brender critiqued Rata for parts of his letter on his motivation to get involved.

“I have read what you said and that you thought the best way was to fight your way out of it,” he said.

“I can’t agree with that.”

The magistrate said the offences were “too serious” to not record a conviction and said it was warranted to “denounce” this type of offending.

Rata was sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order with conviction.

He was ordered to pay $500 for each offence and was ordered not to associate with the two co-accused.

The two others, who are both juveniles, are before the Children’s Court.