Taylor Namulauulu sentenced after wielding knife outside Parramatta Westfield

This born-again Christian brawler got out of his car armed with a knife and lunged at a group of men outside Westfield while city workers watched in horror.

Joanne Vella

@Parramatta_News

less than 2 min read

February 23, 2021 - 6:00AM

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The family of knife-wielding youth-turned doting dad and churchgoer Taylor Namulauulu was visibly relieved when they learned he would not have to go to jail after brandishing a weapon in a brawl outside Parramatta Westfield in June 2019.

His aunt, grandmother and partner’s parents were part of a group who supported him at Parramatta Local Court on Thursday when he was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to affray, armed with intent to commit an indictable offence and negligent driving following the lunch hour brawl.

Footage shows Namulauulu, 23, storming out of the silver Honda and threatening four men with the knife during a fight at the intersection of Church and Argyle streets, shortly after 1pm.

Witnesses watched on in horror as the brawl unfolded.

Taylor Namulauulu after he pleaded guilty in December.

Last week, the court heard how Namulauulu had turned his life around since the crime and had become a father, with his partner expecting a second child, and now attends church.

The prosecution argued for a jail sentence after telling the court how Namulauulu could have killed someone and that he had been convicted previously after wielding an 18cm knife at a pub brawl in Greystanes on Australia Day in 2019.

On Thursday, Magistrate Rodney Brender said it was fortunate no one was stabbed.

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“This conduct is completely outrageous and needs a strong message to be sent about young people behaving like this in public,’’ he said.

“It’s fortunate you didn’t do any damage to anybody.’’

However, he took into account Namulauulu’s guilty plea, “limited criminal history” and time in custody which was the “worst time in my life’’.

“It’s relevant to me that you spent two months and nine days in custody and a similar amount of time on house arrest and curfew,’’ Magistrate Brender said.

He gave Namulauulu a 12-month intensive correction order, which allows him to serve in the community, and 100 hours of community service.

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