George Waipouri fronts court over fatal assault on housemate

An irate thug belted his sickly housemate he described to police as “f---ing evil” in a brutal and senseless attack in a house at Melton South that led to his death.

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

A man jailed for a fatal assault on his sick housemate in their Melton South house could be out on parole within weeks due to time served while awaiting sentence.

George Waipouri, 56, pleaded guilty in the County Court early this month to one charge of intentionally causing injury and was sentenced on Wednesday to at least one year and three months’ imprisonment.

He belted 56-year-old Terrance Richard at their Melton South house on the afternoon of March 2, 2024.

The court heard Waipouri sublet 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.

Terrance Richard died in Sunshine Hospital the day after his housemate George Waipouri attacked him outside his bedroom. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

Following a verbal and physical altercation between the two 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 who refused to give him his belongings.

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, with Mr Richard taken to Sunshine Hospital.

When told by police that the victim was on life support, Waipouri said “mate, he walked out of here” and said Mr Richards was “f---ing evil” before admitting his offending.

Judge Frances Hogan said although Waipouri’s offending behaviour was short lived, it was brutal, senseless and gratuitous violence towards a vulnerable and defenceless victim who was in no way provoking or retalia gratting to his attack.

“You struck him with five blows in quick succession over 13 or 14 seconds. The assault only came to an end because another resident intervened between the two of you

“You repeatedly struck the victim who was cowering and trying to protect himself and in no way being aggressive towards you.”

Waipouri has served 357 days in pre-sentence detention, and could be released in just over three months if granted parole.

Waipouri’s total sentence is two years and six months.