Trae Wiremu Webster sentenced for assault on birthday party guest

An irate guest at his friend’s birthday bash in a Melbourne CBD apartment belted a man and left him to die after accusing him of punching a hole in the wall.

Trae Wiremu Webster has admitted assaulting a man who later died in an inner city Melbourne apartment during a birthday party after accusing him of punching a hole in a bedroom.

A Melbourne man attending his friend’s birthday bash in a city apartment stormed into a guest’s room and bashed him him, leaving him to die after accusing him of punching a hole in the wall.

Adoor Agang, 22-year-old, was discovered unconscious by a cleaner at the Flinders St apartment and died at the scene in the early hours of March 11, 2023.

Trae Wiremu Webster, 26, was initially charged with manslaughter but pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court to two charges of common assault and was on Tuesday sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment.

But he walked out of court a free man due to time served in custody. Crown prosecutor Mark Gibson said it could not be proven that the assault by Webster caused Mr Agang’s death.

A second person allegedly involved in the assault was found not guilty of manslaughter in August.

Mr Gibson told the court that about 50 guests, including Webster, arrived at a short-stay apartment for a friend’s 22nd birthday party on the evening of March 10, 2023.

Trae Webster pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court to assaulting a 22-year-old apartment guest who was later found unresponsive on the floor and succumbed to his injuries.

Shortly before 3am, Webster entered Mr Agang’s room after hearing walls being damaged and asked: “You punched a hole in the wall?” and the man replied: “It wasn’t me”.

Webster punched him in the face, causing him to fall back on the bed unconscious.

Two other men allegedly entered the room and Mr Agang was further assaulted and could be heard saying “Please stop”.

Mr Gibson said about 30 minutes later, Webster punched Mr Agang a number of times to his face after trying to get him to unlock his phone. Mr Agang was then left unconscious on the floor until a cleaner discovered him and emergency services were called.

Defence lawyer Naomi Smith said New Zealand-born Webster was working full time, had good family support and that his prospects of rehabilitation were positive.

Justice Michael Croucher said given Webster had been on onerous bail conditions, his guilty plea, young age, employment and genuine remorse, a short prison term should suffice.

Justice Croucher addressed Mr Agang’s family who joined the court proceeding remotely that he took into account their suffering after losing a loved one.

“It’s hard to understand why he and others are not sentenced for his death but that’s the way law works in some instances,” he said.

A GoFundMe page for Mr Agang has raised just over $9000.