Sione Fonokalafi: Father-of-two’s ‘catastrophic’ injuries after random street attack

A judge has slammed a “punch happy” abattoir worker, saying the community is sick of drunk young men causing catastrophic injuries.

The victim of a “punch happy” abattoir worker who was left with a fractured skull in a brutal street attack has told a court of the impact on his life.

Sione Fonokalafi, 22 of Tarneit, had spent more than 10 hours getting “wasted” with six friends at the Plaza Hotel in Hoppers Crossing on March 20, 2021.

Shortly after midnight, a verbal altercation took place between a female associate of Fonokalafi and another patron while the young man was buying alcohol.

He returned and later recalled hearing from another associate that his friend was called a “slut”.

An hour later the victim was leaving the pub with his mate when they were set on by Fonokalafi’s group in what police described as “random street violence”.

Sione Fonokalafi, 22, coward punched a 39-year-old father during a street fight in Hoppers Crossing on March 20, 2021.

The friend was knocked unconscious before being stomped on and kicked to the head by three men while the victim — a 39-year-old father — stood back, trying to de-escalate the situation.

Fonokalafi, who until that point had stayed out of the conflict, approached from behind and struck him with a “great deal of force”.

CCTV showed the victim collapse to the ground while Fonokalafi fled the area.

Several of his associates were seen robbing, spitting on and continuing to assault the two unconscious men.

Sentencing Fonokalafi on charges of affray and intentionally causing injury in the County Court on Friday, Judge Scott Johns said the community was “sick” of seeing violence committed by drunk young men.

“This random street violence ended in catastrophic consequences for your victim,” he said.

“You struck him with severe force, he was completely unprepared. We see this all the time, people’s heads hit the pavement and they’re left with serious permanent injuries. It’s disgraceful behaviour.”

In a victim impact statement read to the court, the father-of-two described his injuries, saying they continued to impact his life.

He said the attack had left him hospitalised for four days, and suffering from lasting health problems in the months after.

“I’m unable to walk, shower or do things myself,” he said.

“It‘s frustrating having to be totally dependent on friends and family.”

He suffered a fractured skull, bruising on the brain, a ruptured eardrum and impacted hearing.

Fonokalafi was jailed for 18 months and will serve a 12 month community corrections order when released.