- Teen, 18 was sentenced on Friday
- Ride attendant Uati ‘ Pele’ Faletolu was about to become a father
A teen who stabbed a young father-to-be to death in front of shocked crowds at Sydney’s Royal Easter Show could be eligible for parole as soon as next year.
The then 14-year-old, who cannot be named due to his age, stabbed Uati ‘Pele’ Faletolu, 17, in the chest on April 11, 2022.
On Friday, the teen, who is now 18, was sentenced to seven years in prison, with a minimum term of four years and three months.
Based on time already served in custody, he is eligible for parole on October 14, 2026.
The NSW Supreme Court found him not guilty of murder as he did not have the ‘necessary intention’ to kill when he confronted Uati.
The teen pleaded guilty to manslaughter last month.
Judge Peter Garling said the teen carried a knife with him as a ‘form of protective security blanket.’
The court heard the boys were associated with rival gangs from western Sydney – Uati with the ’67’ gang from the Doonside, and his killer with the ‘Ready For Anything’ (RFA) from Mount Druitt.
Uati died on the way to hospital after he was stabbed while working at the Royal Easter Show
Footage of the brutal attack was shared widely across social media, including from the killer
Uati was unarmed when he was confronted by a group of RFA members while he was working at the showground.
He had been at the showground working as a Break Dance ride attendant when he became caught up in a vicious brawl.
The court heard that the killer was standing behind two of his associates when he reached through a gap, stabbing Uati once in the chest in a ‘sudden and quick movement… something in the order of ten seconds’, according to Judge Garling.
Footage of the brutal attack was shared widely across social media with the killer even recording a short video of himself at the showground while saying, ‘GG 67 motherf***er… you thought you could pull us up motherf***er ha ha.’
Police later found a series of poems and raps on the teen’s phone describing how he killed Uati, including the lyrics, ‘Should have worked at Maccas. Now he’s dead. We smoke him up.’
The judge slammed the teen as being ‘boastful about the success of his endeavour’ and ‘disrespectful to the deceased and his family.’
The court was also told the teen had a ‘fascination with knives’ and gave each of his weapons names including ‘Barbie’ for the knife used in the killing.
Uati was months away from becoming a first-time father, pictured with girlfriend Taylor
The knife has never been recovered.
Just days after the fatal attack, it was revealed that Uati had recently learned he was months away from becoming a father.
His pregnant girlfriend Taylor Piliae told mourners at his funeral that he signed up to work at the Easter Show to earn some money for the baby’s arrival.
‘I wish I had 10 more minutes with you to tell you how much you’re appreciated. You would have been the best dad,’ she said.
He was remembered by his mother as a happy young man with a big heart
Mourners performed a haka at Uati’s funeral, as his casket was being driven away
‘I promise I’ll take care of our baby.’
Ms Piliae gave birth to their son seven months later in November 2022 and named him Uati, in honour of his father.
