Two youthful offenders who allegedly broke into the home of rugby player Toutai Kefu have pleaded guilty to the violent incident that left the family hospitalized.
The Wallabies great, now 49, and his wife Rachel were confronted by the armed teenagers at their Brisbane home before a violent scuffle ensued just after 3am in August 2021.
All seven members of the Kefu family were hospitalized after the attack, with the two perpetrators charged with attempted murder.
The duo were due to stand trial in the Brisbane Supreme Court next week, but their pleas to lesser charges were accepted on Friday.
The home of Wallabies legend Toutai Kefu, 47, and his wife Rachel, 46, (pictured) was reportedly invaded by two teenagers in August 2021
Both defendants pleaded guilty to seven charges, including burglary, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and four counts of malicious dealing with intent, Courier mail reported.
Judge Peter Davis gave the youths a brief outline of the incident before they were charged.
It was alleged that four youths broke into a Forest Lake home and stole a lady’s handbag, a bottle of whiskey and an iPhone before getting into the resident’s car and driving to Coorparoo to find another vehicle to steal.
There, two remained in the car while the pair of suspects entered the address armed with a large moon-shaped sickle and knives, where they were confronted by the Kefu family.
“The family living in the house woke up and you … threatened them with the weapons,” Judge Davis said.
“Your intention was to cause serious injury which, if left untreated, would be likely to be permanent or life-threatening.”
One perpetrator also pleaded guilty to two additional charges; violating an order to allow access to his phone and attacking a neighbor who came to Kefu’s aid.
“As you ran out of the house, a neighbor caught you and you struggled with him while still armed with the knife. You caused an injury to his hand,” Judge Davis told the teen.
The duo was ordered into custody.
The Kefu family were all injured by the perpetrators who were armed with a large moon-shaped sickle and knives
The duo pleaded guilty to seven charges, including burglary, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and four counts of malicious dealing with intent
Pre-sentence reports must be prepared in advance of their sentence, which was listed for May, with a Youth Justice report likely to take at least three months to prepare.
Both perpetrators, who did not enter the Kefu family home and allegedly remained outside in the stolen vehicle during the incident, will be sentenced in the Queensland Children’s Court next month.
It is assumed that a person has already participated in restorative justice conferences with victims prior to that sentence.
Rachel Kefu attended the Brisbane Supreme Court on Friday and was escorted out from a side door by security and detectives.
Rachel Kefu attended the Brisbane Supreme Court on Friday and was led out through a side door by security and investigators
One of the defenders also pleaded guilty to a further two charges, including breaching an order to allow access to his phone and attacking a neighbor who came to Kefu’s aid.