‘If someone wakes, you stab them’: Teens jailed over violent home invasion of Wallabies star

Two teenagers armed with a cane-cutting sickle who broke into the Brisbane home of Wallabies star Toutai Kefu have been sentenced, with one of them potentially released back into the community by early next year.

Kefu, his wife Rachel and their son were seriously injured during the August 2021 home invasion, which sparked community anger over youth crime.

Ms Kefu had been awoken by the sound of car doors before finding two boys, 15 at the time, in the Coorparoo home.

Toutai Kefu outside his Coorparoo home after returning from hospital.Credit: Nine News

One of the teenagers demanded car keys and threatened to kill her, before she was struck with the sickle.

Mr Kefu rushed to her aid, and used a stool as a barrier to challenge the two intruders. He suffered a 25-millimetre stab wound to his liver, while their son, Joshua was cut.

The Kefus told the teenagers to leave, and gestured to car keys in a bowl.

Their neighbour, Ben Cannon, tackled one of the teenagers, pinning him down until police arrived.

The scene at the Coorparoo home of Toutai Kefu after the break-in.Credit: Cloe Read

The teenagers pleaded guilty to charges including intentionally causing grievous bodily harm relating to the invasion of the Kefu home, and the theft of a car from another property that morning.

During their sentencing on Thursday, Justice Peter Davis said the incident was “truly horrific” and photos of the Kefu home “frankly looks like a war zone”, with blood smeared throughout.

“But we know it is, in fact, a result of your violent invasion and attack upon the occupants of a family home in a quiet Brisbane suburban street,” he said.

Davis said that when the teenagers entered the home, there was intention to use both the sickle and a knife they brought, if necessary. During a conversation earlier in the night in the car, they discussed: “If someone wakes up, you just stab them”.

“Neither of you fled,” Davis said. “You both stood your ground and responded by attacking Mr Kefu with your weapons.

Davis said any of Mr Kefu’s actions towards the pair were justified as he had to defend his family against life-threatening violence.

Davis said it was not suggested the teenagers targeted the Kefu home because of Mr Kefu’s fame or long career.

Earlier this year, the prosecution had argued for a sentence of no less than 10 years’ detention. The defence teams argued for their clients to receive a sentence of about six years in detention, of which they would only serve half. Both teenagers have been in detention almost three years.

Davis found parts of the attack in the home were particularly heinous, including the slashing and stabbing of Mr and Mrs Kefu.

He said one of the teenagers had committed several vehicle offences – but was not convicted for them – before the home invasion. The other had no previous convictions.

The teenagers were sentenced to eight and seven years’ detention, respectively, and required to serve half of their sentences.

No convictions would be recorded.