Sione Fonokalafi: Man accused of ‘dog punch’ in Melbourne’s west

A father-of-two from Tarneit had his hands up and back turned when he was brutally attacked in a random act of street violence, a court has heard.

An abattoir worker is accused of “coward punching” a Tarneit father, fracturing his skull during a random act of street violence, a court has heard.

Sione Fonokalafi, 21 of Tarneit, appeared in Melbourne Magistrate’s Court this week facing charges of recklessly causing serious injury.

The court heard Fonokalafi allegedly “coward punched” a 39-year-old dad on March 20 while he was out with his mate near Plaza Tavern in Hoppers Crossing about midnight.

Fonokalafi’s friend allegedly started arguing with one of the group before the pair were set on, in what police said was “random street violence”.

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

Fonokalafi, who until that point allegedly stayed out of the conflict, is then accused of punching the dad in the back of the head which forced him to collapse.

Crown prosecutor Daniel White played two minutes of CCTV footage to the court, showing the two men being bashed and then robbed while unconscious by a group of six youths.

Three security guards and members of the public are seen trying to control the situation.

“The (alleged) victim was not involved in the affray,” Mr White said.

“He had his back turned and hands up when Mr Fonokalafi (allegedly) threw a coward’s punch.”

The court heard the man had suffered a fractured skull, brain bleeding and a blown eardrum during the attack, spending six days in intensive care at Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Police have alleged Sione Fonokalafi, 19, coward punched a 39-year-old father during a street fight in Hoppers Crossing on March 20, 2021.

A statement from the alleged victim said he had lasting impacts from the assault including dizziness, loss of balance and trauma.

Senior Constable Kai Wilkie-Bourke said when Mr Fonokalafi was arrested on March 24, he allegedly admitted to the punch, was remorseful and described his actions as a “dog punch”.

In the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday, lawyers for the young man put forward a bail application arguing his risk of committing further offences could be controlled.

“He’s already spent six months in custody,” defence lawyer Gregory Lascaris said. “This would be a motivation for him to follow bail conditions, he doesn’t want to return to prison.”

Mr Lascaris said Mr Fonokalafi had already admitted to the punch and accepted the facts of the case as alleged by police but an issue of causation remained.

He argued they could not prove whether the injuries were the result of the punch alone, pointing to evidence in the CCTV footage that a co-accused had kicked him in the head while unconscious.

“It could be more than two years before Mr Fonokalafi sees trial on the issues,” he said.

“The co-accused for this matter are all on bail already.”

But bail was refused by Magistrate Ross Maxted who said there was a strong case that Mr Fonokalafi had a “propensity for acts of violence”.

“This is one of the first cases that I’ve dealt with where I’ve felt the application is totally deficient in dealing with the risk posed,” he said.

Mr Fonokalafi will return to court on November 5 for a committal mention.