George Waipouri fronts court over fatal assault on housemate

Police were unaware a 56-year-old man fatally assaulted by a housemate had ended up in hospital until the victim’s mum queried why her son was in ICU.

Police at the Milton South house where George Waipouri fatally assaulted housemate Terrance Richard.

A Melton man who suffered fatal injuries after being beaten by a housemate walked a short distance to await police arrival before a concerned member of the public called an ambulance, a court has heard.

Terrance Peter Richard, 56, was taken to the Sunshine Hospital nearly three hours later and died the next day after his life support was turned off.

The man responsible for the beating, George Waipouri, 56, pleaded guilty in the County Court on Friday to one charge of intentionally causing injury on the afternoon of March 2, 2024 in Melton South.

The court heard Waipouri sub-let three bedrooms of a house on Richard Rd in Melton to Mr Richard and two other males.

In the weeks leading up to the offending, Waipouri became frustrated at escalating tension between Mr Richard and another man.

Police arrested George Waipouri at his Melton South house for a vicious assault that claimed the life of his housemate Terrance Richard.

Following a verbal and physical altercation between the two feuding men about 3.45pm on March 2, 2024 Waipouri punched Mr Richard outside the latter’s bedroom to the face which caused his head to snap back and hit a wall.

He then punched Mr Richard in his face and rib cage as the victim cowered and covered the sides of his head with his hands.

The assault stopped after a housemate intervened. Mr Richard went back to his bedroom but Waipouri followed and told him to pack his bags and get out.

Mr Richard walked a short distance to a house from where he called triple-0, saying he had been belted by his housemate George who refused to give him his belongings.

George Waipouri was initially charged with the manslaughter of his house mate Terrance Richard. Picture: Google Maps

He then crossed the road and while waiting for police outside Coburn Primary School, three people — including two off-duty police officers — saw blood on his body and called triple-0.

Police were not notified by paramedics or Sunshine Hospital that Mr Richard was in a hospital in a critical state.

At 11.30am the following day, Mr Richard’s mother contacted police and queried why her son was in the ICU.

When told by police that the victim was on life support, Waipouri said “mate, he walked out of here” before admitting his offending.

Waipouri will be sentenced at a later date.