Isaako Moelau convicted over affray at Panthers League Club

A man has faced court over his involvement in a violent dancefloor brawl erupting in the early hours of the morning at the Panthers Leagues Club.

Isaako Moelau leaves Penrith court

A man has been convicted for his involvement in a violent dancefloor brawl erupting in the early hours of the morning at Panthers Leagues Club.

Isaako Moelau, 22, of Plumpton appeared in Penrith Local Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to affray, relating to a fight which broke out during a night out.

Agreed police facts state just before 2am on November 14, 2021, Moelau and three of his friends arrived at Panthers and joined other punters on the dance floor.

A fight soon erupted on the dancefloor with punches being thrown in all directions with CCTV footage showing Moelau as a primary participant.

Staff and security were able to disperse the participants by forcibly separating and removing them from the premises, during which time police were called.

Penrith Panthers from the outside

When police arrived they spoke with security who confirmed the identity of those involved via the club’s sign-in sheet and the CCTV footage.

However it wouldn’t be until almost a year later until Moelau was charged, when police attended his residence in October and conducted an interview.

During the police interview Moelau admitted to being involved in the brawl, with his version of events matching up with the CCTV footage.

On Thursday Moelau’s lawyer told the court on the night of the punch-up her client had just gone to the Panthers to “hang out” and didn’t know what triggered the brawl.

“He was fearing for the safety of himself and his friends and his reaction was to join in at the time,” the lawyer said.

“My client is not a violent person, he goes to church every week and since the incident has had lots of time for growth and reflection.”

Magistrate Stephen Corry accepted Moelau’s lack of a criminal record and his otherwise good character, telling Moelau: “a lot of people go to the Panthers, ultimately they are there to have a good night not to be confronted by a number of people throwing punches”.

Moelau was convicted and fined $1000.