No conviction for Yagoona church pianist who pleaded guilty to assault
A HSC student, who plays the piano at his local church, has been spared a conviction even after pleading guilty to assaulting two police officers.
Four men involved in a wedding brawl in which police officers were attacked have walked free from court.
Amit Foisa Mika, Luke-Stan Tauelima, Kama Taani and Sione Taani were all sentenced in Bankstown Local Court on Wednesday for their involvement in the October 5 brawl, which saw between 15-20 people fighting.
Amit Foisa Mika, 18, had been charged with two counts of assaulting police officers who tried to stop the brawl at the High Line venue, Bankstown, but escaped without conviction.
One senior constable was treated for a dislocated shoulder and another for capsicum spray contamination during the skirmish.
The Yagoona HSC student was facing a possible maximum jail sentence of five years after he shoulder charged and attacked an officer before being subdued with a Taser and capsicum spray.
His lawyer told Bankstown Local Court on Wednesday that Mika had shown deep remorse at what he had done and had written a letter of apology to the courts and police.
Mika pleaded guilty, with his lawyer saying he knew he had brought dishonour to his family, many of whom were present in court.
The defence argued the other men who had been involved in the fight were leaving in the lift just when the police officers arrived but it was Mika and the others, including the parents, who were peppered sprayed.
The court heard the brawl ruined what should have been a grand and memorable day for the bride and groom, instead ending in pepper spray and arrests.
“There was a lot of chaos and lot of disorder (at the reception),” his lawyer said.
“I am not attempting to justify his actions but trying to explain why a young man could behave like this.”
She said Mika was also a carer for his father who is suffering from cancer.
At his previous court appearance on October 30, it was said he was staying with his grandfather, which was corrected to father by magistrate Jillian Kiely on Wednesday.
Mika’s desire to join the police force was also mentioned, while a strong character reference from his church pastor was tendered to court, saying he also played the piano for the services.
Magistrate Kiely said what happened at the reception appears to be an aberration and she was taking into account that he had been a good son to his ailing father.
Mika was given a conditional release order for 12 months, without conviction, with Magistrate Kiely stressing that: “If you commit further offences, you will come before me and I will not treat you lightly. I hope I won’t see you again.”
Another person involved in the brawl, Sione Taani, 19, of Airds, was given a two-year conditional release order with conviction.
The brawl began when Taani tried to stop an unknown male from the groom’s party from harassing a female member from the bride’s party, according to his solicitor.
Taani also pleaded guilty to the charges of assaulting police officers during the brawl which was captured on CCTV.
Taani later had taken off his shirt and taunted men from the groom’s party, according to court documents.
“I find these types of offences need to be denounced,” Magistrate Kiely said.
“There needs to be something more to make sure you don’t do it again.
“This is your first adult offence before court and I want to deter you and others from taking matters into your own hands.”
Luke-Stan Tauelima, 27, received a conviction and a two-year conditional release order after pleading guilty to assaulting a police officer and affray.
Tauelima, who works in the disability sector, is a father of three children under five. He was only subdued after being sprayed with capsicum spray by police officers who had to call for reinforcements.
He had approached the bride and tried to comfort her by hugging her but she had pulled away, the court heard. When another male approached the bride to calm her, Tauelima had gone “face to face with him before pushing him against a wall,” according to the police statement.
When police arrived and tried to stop the brawl, Tauelima had turned to one of the officers and screamed at him: “What the f..k are `you going to do?” and slapped away his hand.
Kama Taani, 21, the brother of Sione Taani, represented himself in court, and was granted a conditional release order for 12 months, without conviction. The Minto local had been charged with affray, having being caught on CCTV being involved in a melee.
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