Phoenix Hotel: Man allegedly threatened with shotgun during pub bashing

A pub goer in Melbourne’s west was allegedly threatened with a sawn-off shotgun while being bashed to a pulp by two men.

A pub goer in Melbourne’s west was allegedly bashed to a pulp by two men before they pulled out a sawn-off shotgun to threaten him, a court has heard.

Hoppers Crossing man, Trevor Sofele, and James “Jay” Pulefola, of Point Cook, were arrested on March 23 and charged over the alleged attack following a police investigation.

The pair faced Werribee Magistrates’ Court on Thursday in separate hearings where they were denied bail due to the “extremely serious” allegations against them.

The court heard the victim was at The Phoenix Hotel in Point Cook just before 9am on March 14, when he was allegedly approached by Mr Pulefola, 33, and punched in the face.

Trevor Sofele of Hoppers Crossing has been charged after an alleged pub assault on March 14. Picture: Facebook/Trevor Sofele

The pair apparently had “history” including a mutual woman friend and had a falling out.

A police prosecutor said Mr Sofele, 36, then joined the alleged bashing, with both men raining punches and kicks on the man who was knocked to the ground.

“Numerous witnesses were present and had to move away from the violence,” he said.

Police say the victim managed to escape, running outside to the car park where he armed himself with a “garden picket”.

The two accused men allegedly followed him outside, where Mr Sofele is accused of telling Mr Pulefola to “get the gun from the car”.

The prosecutor said CCTV from the pub then showed Mr Pulefola retrieving a “sawn-off double barrel shotgun” from Mr Sofele’s car before the victim fled back inside the pub.

He was allegedly left with bruising and swelling to his body and a chipped tooth.

A police search of Mr Pulefola’s house during his arrest on March 23 allegedly uncovered the gun in a black bag in his bedroom and a “large” amount of ammunition.

“We’re alleging the accused was threatening someone with a firearm,” the prosecutor said.

“This is extremely concerning behaviour.”

A single shotgun shell and a kitchen knife were allegedly found in Mr Sofele’s car, which his lawyer Pichard Revill suggested may have been left accidentally when he helped his co-accused move house.

The court heard both men were allegedly on bail for unrelated charges at the time of their arrest.

Despite an offer of a $25,000 surety for Mr Pulefola and the fact Mr Sofele’s partner is in hospital giving birth to their fifth child, magistrate Kimberley Swadesir declined to grant bail.

“This is absolutely without a doubt extremely serious allegations in a public place,” she said.

The two men were charged with numerous offences including affray, theft, intentionally causing injury, recklessly cause injury, armed with a fire arm and possession of firearm.

Mr Sofele was additionally charged with making threat to inflict serious injury.

Both men have yet to enter pleas and will return to court on May 5.