Tongia and Naquita Heaki: Hurstville couple guilty of horror attack

The proud smile of an ‘independent’ female dentist is now a memory after a brutal attack by two drug-fuelled parents. The woman shared how she is "in a terror that does not end”.

Naquita Heaki has pleaded guilty over the attack. Picture: Facebook

UPDATE - DANIEL MCGOOKIN, JUNE 9 2021

A powerful account of the horror encountered by an innocent woman, brutally attacked by two drug-fuelled parents on a suburban street, has been shared in court.

Rising levels of paranoia led Tongia and Naquita Heaki to launch a sickening attack on a female dentist walking past their Hurstville home, tragically changing her life as she knew it.

The victim, who described herself as an independent woman, spoke of the flashbacks and terror of the unprovoked attack which led to a week in hospital.

“It has been over one year since I was attacked, since then my life has changed significantly,” she said. “I have been living in a terror that does not end.”

The dentist said her teeth, which she was once proud of, can no longer bite through a sandwich or an apple after having her face violently scraped on the concrete pavement.

The terrified victim was pulled by the hair and had her head smashed against a brick wall and a parked car. She was then threatened with a knife with Tongia Heaki stating “I’m going to assassinate you”.

In her powerful victim impact statement heard by the court, the dentist spoke how her independence had gone since the attack.

“I was an independent woman who never relied on anyone for nothing,” she said. “(Now) I don’t feel safe anymore. I am plagued by anxiety.

“Each day is a fight and it is exhausting.”

The married couple will be sentenced in July.

EARLIER - GARY HAMILTON-IRVINE, FEBRUARY 10 2021 

A Hurstville couple has admitted to taking drugs before bashing and threatening to kill a terrified woman in an unprovoked attack outside their home, court documents have revealed.

Hurstville couple Tongia and Naquita Heaki have pleaded guilty to the sickening attack which unfolded in March last year outside their Barnards Ave home in Hurstville, where they live with their three children.

The injuries suffered by the victim were so severe she spent a week in hospital.

The agreed facts stated the pair had spent a night out at a friend’s place, before the attack, and had consumed illegal drugs including meth and marijuana.

When they arrived home, the agreed facts stated they became increasingly paranoid and manic, and were convinced someone had hurt their friend.

Tongia Heaki was back in Central Local Court on Tuesday.

About 9am, the victim was walking past their home and Tongia ran out of the house and chased her down the footpath.

“The male offender grabbed the back of the victim’s hair. This caused immediate pressure and pain to the victim’s head and she could feel parts of her hair being pulled out,” the agreed facts stated.

She fell back on the concrete and Tongia punched her multiple times to the face.

According to the court documents,Tongia’s partner Naquita filmed part of the attack on her phone and yelled “you killed our friend”.

Tongia, also known as Tony, told the terrified victim “you are going to pay for my friend”.

The victim did not know her attackers and called for help multiple times.

She lost consciousness at times during the prolonged attack and was dragged down the footpath by her hair.

The agreed facts stated Tongia smashed her head against a brick wall and against a parked car.

Co-offender Naquita went inside their home and brought out a knife and hammer which she gave to her partner. She said “kill her, do it”.

Tongia threatened her with the knife and at one point said “I’m going to assassinate you”.

However, police eventually arrived and arrested both Tongia and Naquita. Naquita was admitted to a mental health hospital while Tongia had to be sedated and was released to police after being taken to hospital.

The agreed facts stated the victim – who suffered broken teeth and ribs and large amounts of swelling, cuts and bruises – spent six days in hospital and required ongoing support.

Tongia remains in custody on remand and pleaded guilty at Central Local Court on Tuesday to reckless grievous bodily harm in company and destroy/damage property.

His partner, Naquita, also pleaded guilty to the same charges last week and she remains on bail.

The pair will be sentenced in the district court and are due back in court in March.