Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath lodges appeal to sentences for teens in for Kefu attack

Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath will appeal the sentences handed down to the two teens who attacked Wallabies legend Toutai Kefu and his family in a brutal home invasion, calling the punishments “manifestly inadequate”.

The teens, who can not be named for legal reasons, attacked Mr Kefu, his wife and their two adult children at their Brisbane home in 2021.

Mr Kefu and his wife were stabbed and slashed in the attack and both suffered serious injuries.

The police originally charged the teens, who were 15 at the time of the attack, with attempted murder, but the pair ultimately pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of malicious acts with intent.

Justice Peter Davis, in sentencing the teens on June 27, said the crime scene photos resembled a “war zone” with blood smeared on the walls and floor of the house.

Justice Davis sentenced one of the teens to seven years in jail and the other to eight years.

But the teens will only serve 50 per cent of their sentences because of “special circumstances”.

Convictions were not recorded.

Ms D’Ath said she had decided to appeal the sentences after receiving advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

“Appeals have been lodged on the grounds the sentences imposed were manifestly inadequate, having regard to the maximum penalty and the declaration that some of the offences were heinous,” she said.

“Given this appeal process is now underway, no further comment will be made on the matter.”

The maximum penalty for the offence is life in prison.