Makau Waiapu charged after brutal alleged assault at Southbank Parklands

An 18-year-old man is accused of knocking another man unconscious, and continuing his brutal assault even as he convulsed on the floor. Read the shocking details.

An 18-year-old man was refused bail in the Southport Magistrates Court on January 6. Picture: Brendan Radke.

A Gold Coast man accused of a bashing in Brisbane’s Southbank Parklands has had his charges mentioned in court for the first time.

18-year-old Makau Waiapu faced four charges of assault occasioning bodily harm, four charges of common assault, and one charge of choking, suffocation or strangulation in a domestic setting after the alleged incident in Brisbane on Saturday, January 4.

Mr Waiapu appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court for the first mention of the charges on Monday, January 6.

Police prosecutor Amelia Ridley said police allege the 18-year-old attacked a man and a woman who were known to him, at about 10.15pm on January 4.

Ms Ridley said police understood the woman previously dated Mr Waiapu, and the man was her new partner.

Mr Waiapu allegedly kicked the man in the back of the head so hard he was immediately rendered unconscious, then continued to bash the man as he lay on the ground.

The court heard the male victim was still in hospital days after the alleged assault and suffered a seizure during the incident in Southbank Parklands.

She said Mr Waiapu allegedly snatched a handbag from the woman, and allegedly used it to continue the onslaught against the unconscious man.

When the woman reached for her phone to call police, Mr Waiapu allegedly struck the phone from her hand and grabbed the collar of her shirt, twisting it so tight in his hand she struggled to breathe.

Ms Ridley said Mr Waiapu also allegedly threatened onlookers who tried to intervene.

She further alleged the 18-year-old stepped on the male victim’s head while he was seizing on the ground.

She described it as an “extremely violent, unprovoked attack,” and told the court the man reportedly laughed as he was arrested.

Ms Ridley also said the alleged incident was captured on CCTV, and lasted for as long as 15 minutes.

In opposing bail, Ms Ridley said there were “no conditions which can successfully ameliorate the risk (Mr Waiapu) posed.”

Mr Waiapu was represented by Legal Aid Queensland lawyer, Georgia D’Arcy, who told the court the 18-year-old had allegedly received threats before the attack.

She told the court there was no evidence the alleged assault was premeditated, or that Mr Waiapu is “particularly fixated” on the victims.

She said the man had no criminal history, and lived with his parents in Upper Coomera.

Ms D’Arcy said the 18-year-old had an intellectual disability, and had some trouble reading and writing.

Refusing bail, Acting Magistrate Steven Wettenhall said he was not satisfied that any conditions would protect the alleged victims to a satisfactory degree.

As the 18-year-old was marched from the dock, Mr Waiapu’s mother called out from the gallery: “I love you, take care.”

He will spend the next four weeks on remand, before his next appearance in the Southport Magistrates Court on February 7, 2025.