Teen jailed for two years after pleading guilty to Solomone Taufeulungaki manslaughter

A killer teenager who plunged a knife into the heart of beloved Solomone Taufeulungaki will spend only two years behind bars.

Solomone Taufeulungaki’s killer will spend two years behind bars after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

A killer teenager who plunged a knife into the heart of beloved Solomone Taufeulungaki will spend only two years in youth detention, with a judge despairing that Victorian kids are increasingly “bringing knives to fights”.

The 18-year-old, who cannot be named because he was 15 at the time, was sentenced in the Supreme Court on Friday after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Solomone, who Justice Amanda Fox described as a “gentle” boy, was brutally attacked at Brimbank Shopping Centre in Melbourne’s west on June 16, 2020, when he was set upon by a gang of 10 youths.

“He lay curled on the ground, with his arms up, trying to protect his head,” she said. “He was punched, kicked and struck with weapons, including a baseball bat.”

But the hoodlum, brandishing a small knife, inflicted the fatal stab wound, piercing Solomone’s heart.

“You then dropped your knife next to the wounded Solomone before walking away,” Justice Fox said.

Solomone Taufeulungaki’s aunty Aunty Siualone comforts father Atunaisa following his stabbing death in 2020. Picture: David Crosling.

The memorial for teenager Solomone Taufeulungaki in Deer Park. Picture: Sarah Matray

Solomone, 15, died at the Deer Park scene, with hundreds of grief-stricken mourners gathering for an evening candlelight vigil in the days after he was slain.

He aspired to be a police officer and a rugby player when he grew up, according to a moving victim-impact statement written by his mother.

“He spent his time between home, school and church,” Justice Fox said, referring to the statement.

“Solomone was happy, kind, helpful and cheerful. He loved his family and they loved him.”

The court heard the knife-wielding youth was associated with two gangs operating in Melbourne’s west, who were in conflict with a third gang.

A friend had claimed to him he had previously been assaulted by Solomone, with Justice Fox saying the attack on the victim may have been considered “payback”.

“The circumstances of this incident appear to be sadly becoming more common; that is, teenagers are bringing knives to fights, with the tragic result that young people are being killed,” she said.

In October 2020, following further investigations, the teen was charged with murder before his charge was downgraded to manslaughter.

“Your act of brandishing the knife ... was unlawful and dangerous and by this act you caused the death of Solomone,” Justice Fox said.

While he was granted bail in December 2020, the teen found himself behind bars six months later after committing a burglary.

But he was again granted bail in December 2021, after his family offered to relocate him to Queensland, where he was casually working in the hopes of becoming an electrician.

When sentencing the teen, who was supported by his parents in court, Justice Fox said she could see limited evidence of “genuine remorse”.

But the 18-year-old’s defence had argued he should avoid adult jail due to his “strong” prospects of rehabilitation, his clean criminal record since the burglary and his age.

Justice Fox agreed the teen should avoid the “undesirable influences” of adult jail which would “interrupt” his rehabilitation, sentencing him to two years in a youth justice centre.

If the 18-year-old had not pleaded guilty, he would have been sentenced to three years and three months.

With time served, the teen could be released in mid-2024.