Mehaka Tawhiti: guilty in Dandenong Court after drunk fight leaves van with thousands in damages
A Dandenong man has caused thousands in damages after flying into a drunken rage to “protect his sister” outside a Hallam liquor store.
South East
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A Dandenong father of six claimed he was “protecting his sister” when he kicked in the side of a van at a Hallam bottle shop
Mehaka Tawhiti pleaded guilty in the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on June 27 to criminal damage, after he was caught attacking a van at Hallam BWS in 2022.
The court heard Tawhiti’s sister had gone to the drive-through liquor store earlier in the evening on August 31, when she got into an altercation with three women and a man.
Tawhiti’s sister had been drawing on the rear of the van with her finger through the dust, before a tussle broke out between the driver of the van and the trio of unknown women.
The court heard Tawhiti arrived a short time later with a friend, where he kicked in the side of the van, leaving significant damage to the panel, as well as punching in the side passenger window.
Tawhiti’s friends were also banging on the side of the van, yelling at the four occupants, before the driver started the vehicle and drove away.
The court heard Tawhiti caused $1200 in damages.
He told police he’d had a “gut-full of piss” and was just protecting his sister who said a guy had attacked her.
“I can’t remember all of it, I’d had a lot to drink,” he said.
The court heard he had not been in trouble with the law since that fateful night.
Magistrate Jacinta Studham placed him on a 12 month good behaviour bond without conviction.
