Bashing victim’s injury doubts

LAWYERS for a Tongan citizen who bashed an innocent young reveller outside Parliament House have argued the man may not have caused the victim’s concussion.

Neil Armstrong Langi Naufahu, 30, has pleaded guilty to assault after punching his victim to the head and kicking him as he walked toward Salamanca in the early hours of May 5 this year.

The youth, who had tried to hug Naufahu to pacify him before the attack, rolled around on the ground for a while after the attack before catching a bus home. He was later taken to hospital in an ambulance and suffered concussion symptoms for weeks afterwards.

But on Monday, defence barrister Andrei Slicer said the victim fell down some concrete steps in the parliament car park shortly after the attack, and that fall could have caused his concussion.

Acting Justice David Porter said the exact cause of the youth’s symptoms, which kept him in hospital for 24 hours, were speculative.

Mr Slicer also said Naufahu was on a bridging visa, which was suspended in October this year and he was at serious risk of deportation “regardless of his convictions here”.

He said because Naufahu lost his visa, the former Incat welder had lost his job and had since racked up $10,000 in debt.

Mr Slicer said in the lead-up to the assault, Naufahu had been arguing with his wife, was experiencing financial difficulties and had been engaging in occasional binge-drinking.

He said the father-of-one had since separated and his father had died.

“He apologises unconditionally to the complainant,” Mr Slicer said.

Acting Justice Porter said he needed time to consider Mr Slicer’s submissions and ordered Naufahu undergo an assessment for his suitability for community service. Naufahu was remanded in custody until December 16 for sentence.