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CCTV captures rising NRL star Manase Fainu moments before brawl

Steve ZemekNCA NewsWire
Faamanu Levi was stabbed in the back during the brawl. Shannon Tonkin
Camera IconFaamanu Levi was stabbed in the back during the brawl. Shannon Tonkin Credit: Supplied

NRL player Manase Fainu has denied plunging a steak knife into the back of a youth leader, as CCTV showed the moment he jumped a fence into a Mormon church shortly before a bloody brawl.

Mr Fainu, 24, is standing trial in the Parramatta District Court where he has denied stabbing Faamanu Levi in his back during an altercation outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Wattle Grove on October 25, 2019.

Fainu has pleaded not guilty to one count of wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and he on Monday took the witness stand as he fights the allegations.

The court has heard that Mr Levi, a church youth leader, had earlier in the night spoken to two men who were involved in an altercation on the dance floor and were asked to leave the dance.

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Mr Levi and his friends were later attacked by a group of men inside the church parking lot in a brawl between two parked cars, but Mr Fainu said he played no part.

MANASE FAINU - PARRAMATTA COURT
Camera IconNRL star Manase Fainu has told the court he did not stab a church leader in the back. NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles Credit: News Corp Australia

The Manly Sea Eagles hooker on Monday told the jury he went to the dance with his friends, including Uona “Big Buck” Faingaa, who the court heard was attempting to recover money he was owed.

Mr Fainu said he saw two of his mates including “Big Buck” being escorted off the church grounds and followed them, apologising to a security guard for his friend’s behaviour on the way out.

CCTV played during the trial shows Mr Fainu jumping the fence from a Coles car park back into the church grounds shortly before the brawl.

Mr Fainu has told the court he told his friends he would go inside to collect Big Buck’s money by himself, however his friends followed him over the fence.

CCTV footage showing Manase Fainu jumping a fence into a Mormon church dance shortly before a wild brawl. Picture: Supplied
Camera IconCCTV footage showing Manase Fainu jumping a fence into a Mormon church dance shortly before a wild brawl. Supplied Credit: Supplied

CCTV played to the court showed Mr Fainu was the first of five men to jump over the fence, using a fire hydrant to boost himself up.

He said he was walking through the car park to the chapel when he saw a brawl erupt about 10 to 15 metres away.

“I just saw something, like a brawl going on,” Mr Fainu said.

“I started, like, back-pedalling and walking backwards,” he said, arguing he knew he couldn’t defend himself.

The court has heard he had undergone shoulder surgery and his arm was in a sling at the time.

Asked by his barrister Margaret Cunneen SC if he had a knife that night, he said “no, mam”.

He said he never saw a knife in any of his friends’ possession and ran away when he heard someone yell “knife, knife”.

“I just saw (the brawl) for, like, a minute or two and then I ran away; I was scared for myself,” he said.

Faamanu Levi was stabbed in the back during the brawl. Shannon Tonkin
Camera IconFaamanu Levi was stabbed in the back during the brawl. Shannon Tonkin Credit: Supplied

CCTV also showed him jumping back over the fence into the Coles parking lot, tossing his sling and a white towel, which he wore on his head, before climbing over.

He said once back over and in his car, he talked to his friends about the brawl.

Mr Fainu told the court he heard “Big Buck” say he “dropped someone” but none of his friends told him about someone being stabbed.

Mr Levi has previously told the court he did not see who stabbed him in the back near his right shoulder.

Witness Tony Quach last week told the court he saw Mr Fainu stab Mr Levi in the back during the brawl and could identify him from his sling.

“Sir, you were the one who plunged the knife into the back of Faamanu Levi on the 25th of October, 2019, weren’t you?” crown prosecutor Emma Curran asked

“No, mam,” Mr Fainu replied.

CCTV footage showing Manase Fainu jumping a fence into a Mormon church dance shortly before a wild brawl. Picture: Supplied
Camera IconCCTV footage showing Manase Fainu running to his car after a wild brawl. He says he took no part in the altercation. Supplied Credit: Supplied

He said he climbed the fence because it was the quickest way to get back into the church, despite telling Ms Curran he could have walked back in via the front gate because he wasn’t kicked out of the dance.

He said he thought he was going by himself but after he had got over the wall he realised his friends had followed.

“Why did you jump over?” Mr Fainu claimed he told his friends.

He said he told “Big Buck” and his other friends to “wait there” but “Big Buck” was angry and said “f*** that, I’ll go get it.”

“Why did you feel such a responsibility to Big Buck to go and get the money for him?” Ms Curran asked.

“Because I was the driver, I was just a good friend,” Mr Fainu said.

The trial continues on Tuesday.

Originally published as CCTV captures rising NRL star Manase Fainu moments before brawl

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