He has spent serious money on his barrister, John Korn is one of the best.
NRL star Junior Amone faces hearing over alleged tradie hammer attack
A panicked call made during an alleged chaotic incident involving NRL playmaker Junior Amone and his father has been heard in court, with a man heard saying: [They have] f***ing hammers, f***ing knives, everything”.
Dylan Arvela
@dylanarvela
2 min read
August 17, 2023 - 12:41PM
Illawarra Star
Junior Amone has been named to start against the Melbourne Storm on Saturday. (Inset) Junior in front of his father Talatau Amone outside Wollongong courthouse.
The legal team of rising NRL playmaker Junior Amone has told the court police “got the wrong person” during a hearing into an alleged hammer attack in the Illawarra region.
The Dragons five-eighth, at the behest of his father Talatau Amone, allegedly swung a hammer at tradesman Jai King who tried to flee before falling off a roof.
However, Junior’s barrister John Korn told the Wollongong Local Court on Thursday “we accept he was there” but at “the time of the relevant events, he was not the person on the roof”.
The alleged incident kicked off on November 15 when Junior’s father – who was referred to as “Talatau” and “Senior” throughout proceedings – allegedly took umbrage with a Nissan Navara parked on a nature strip near the Amone family home on Vermont Rd, Warrawong.
The court heard distressed triple-0 calls made by Mr King during and after the alleged incident where he said “There’s 10 people jumping on the car, damaging it”.
Dragons player Junior Amone entering Wollongong Local Court on Thursday alongside his solicitor Elias Tabchouri. Picture: Dylan Arvela
“[They have] f***ing hammers, f***ing knives, everything,” he said before going silent.
The court heard Junior’s Dragons teammate Moses Suli gave a statement to police in relation to the incident. He has not been charged and is not accused of any wrongdoing.
Junior, 21, is defending charges of destroy or damage property, intimidation and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Senior, 47, is defending charges of destroy or damage property, intimidation and entering a building or land with the intent to commit an indictable offence.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Anna Comer outlined the case against the father and son, alleging the pair along with a third person – with Junior holding onto a hammer – approached Mr King’s vehicle, climbed on top and repeatedly jumped on its roof, causing significant damage.
Mr King contacted triple-0 as the men allegedly climbed on top and threatened two tradies.
Junior Amone with his father Talatau Amone. Picture: Facebook
Junior allegedly swung the hammer towards Mr King, before chasing after him and ultimately causing him to fall off the two-storey building.
Junior was allegedly overheard telling the two co-accused “get the f--king c--t” as Mr King lay on the ground. Mr King hid in a nearby house and contacted emergency services again.
After being taken to hospital for treatment, Mr King allegedly told police Junior was the “main aggressor” during the incident.
Sgt Comer said his fingerprints were found on the victim’s vehicle as well as CCTV footage from Sydney Airport and Services NSW on the same day where he was wearing identical clothing.
The hearing before Magistrate Gabriel Fleming is expected to last at least two days
