Fallen St George Illawarra playmaker Junior Amone has avoided prison after he was found guilty of arming himself with a hammer and chasing a tradesman off a roof during a heated dispute.
But the 21-year-old walked out of Wollongong Local Court on Monday without his father Talatau Amone who was sentenced for two and a half years with a non-parole period of 12 months.
Junior Amone and his father Talatau Amone were found guilty in October at Wollongong Local Court of a string of charges, including assault relating to an incident outside their family home in Warrawong in November 2022.
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Talatau Amone pleaded not guilty to damaging property, intimidation, entering a building or land with the intention to commit an indictable offence and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The pair entered court on Monday morning flanked by family members and supporters.
When asked whether they were prepared for the worst, lawyer Elias Tabchouri said the father and son were “prepared for anything”.
Magistrate Gabriel Fleming described the pair’s conduct as “appalling” as she individually sentenced the father and son for their roles during the heated confrontation.
Talatau Amone was sentenced to a period of two and a half years behind bars, with a non parole period of 12 months.
“There is an ongoing inability to understand the consequences of his actions of violence,” Ms Fleming said of his behaviour.
“There is no insight, there is no remorse, there is no indicator the community would be safer if he were serving it in the community.”
Junior Amone was sentenced to a two year Intensive Corrections Order, which is a term of imprisonment to be served in the community.
Ms Fleming said the NRL player’s conduct was “appalling”.
“You armed yourself with a hammer, the victims were vulnerable, the victim was up on a roof, there was nowhere to go,” she said.
The St George Illawarra Dragons released a statement on Monday afternoon acknowledging the outcome.
“The Dragons acknowledge the two-year Intensive Corrections Order that was handed down to player Talatau Amone today,” the statement read.
“The club will now work closely with the NRL Integrity Unit to determine the appropriate next steps.
“An update will be provided once this process has been completed.”
Ms Fleming told the court it was a “tragedy” the conviction is affecting the 21-year-old’s playing career and finances, as he supports his family both in Australia and overseas.
“I think it is a tragedy this could jeopardise your entire future in the profession you love,” she said.
“It is your tragedy not mine.”
Both men were fined $1000 each for damaging a car, and will have to pay their share of $13,481 in compensation.
Ms Fleming in October found the pair guilty of all charges after the court was told tradesmen Jai King and Dean West were working on a house opposite the Amone home when they became embroiled in an argument with a group of men over a Nissan Navara parked on a nature strip.
The court was told Talatau Amone elbowed the rear-vision mirror and reached into the vehicle to snap off the indicator.
Junior Amone then jumped on the top of the vehicle, the court was told, while his father abused and threatened the tradesmen.
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Ms Fleming found Junior Amone then climbed onto the roof of the property where the men were working while wielding a hammer. Mr King jumped to a neighbouring roof to escape the pair, falling and hitting an airconditioning unit on the way down.
He suffered serious injuries, including a broken hand.
Mr King told the court that his attacker was tall, muscular and had a thin moustache.
While the magistrate said the description alone did not positively identify Junior Amone, other evidence tied him to the scene and she was satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that he was the man who chased Mr King from the rooftop.
Ms Fleming took into account that earlier in the day Junior Amone was seen on CCTV at Sydney airport wearing clothes similar to the description given by the victim and his fingerprints were found on the vehicle.
The NRL star’s playing future is now under a cloud after the Dragons stood him down from all club activities indefinitely.
“The Dragons acknowledge the guilty verdict handed down to player Talatau Amone in Wollongong Court today in relation to an assault last November,” the club said in a statement following the guilty verdict.
“As a result of this outcome, Amone has been stood down from all club activities until further notice.”
The 21-year-old could be facing a term of imprisonment, with the sentence set to happen later on Monday.