A former Queensland under-20s State of Origin player and Gold Coast Titans member allegedly told a man “that is what you get” following a one-punch attack that resulted in the victim’s death, the court heard.
Oshae Jackson Tuiasau, 29, has pleaded not guilty to unlawfully striking a man who later died in hospital, asserting he acted in self-defence during an early morning altercation in Surfers Paradise
During the first day of his trial at Brisbane Supreme Court, prosecutors stated a witness would testify regarding the defendant’s alleged comment after the incident.
The court was informed that Tuiasau allegedly delivered a single punch to Toro George, 39, in the face on View Avenue, Surfers Paradise, around 3:30 a.m. on December 19, 2021, an event captured on CCTV.
Mr. George fell backwards, striking his head on the pavement and losing consciousness. He died in hospital eight days later, on December 27.
Mr Tuiasau was taken into custody soon after the incident, around 4:30am, and was questioned by police later that morning at the Southport watch house.
At that point, Mr George was still in critical condition, and Mr Tuiasau was advised he would be charged with causing grievous bodily harm.
In the police interview video shown to the jury, Mr Tuiasau appeared quiet and subdued.
“I looked at him and then I, I struck him … I punched him,” Mr Tuiasau said.
He expressed surprise when he saw Mr George fall and acknowledged he had been drinking throughout the night.
“It was an enjoyable night … until the very end,” he remarked.
Mr Tuiasau told officers the deadly encounter started as the group was walking away from the Havana RnB Nightclub.
He claimed that Mr George began using profanity and that hearing about an alleged attack on a woman “set him off.”
“We were face-to-face,” he said.
Earlier in the evening, the court heard there had been a tense exchange involving both men inside the nightclub.
CCTV footage captured a confrontation inside Havana, showing a group including Mr Tuiasau in what appeared to be an argument.
Outside, the footage showed uniformed police stepping in and pushing one man away before the group eventually dispersed.
Crown Prosecutor Toby Corsbie told the jury the fatal incident was caught on CCTV and played the recording in court.
It showed six men, including Mr George and Mr Tuiasau, walking closely together before Mr George leaned toward a man in a white shirt. That individual, alleged to be Mr Tuiasau, then struck Mr George in the face.
The blow caused Mr George to immediately fall to the ground.
The video showed several people attempting to help him, while Mr Tuiasau walked away.
Mr George’s family members were visibly distressed in court, with one gasping as the footage played and others turning away.
Mr. Corsbie informed the jury that it was “one brief moment, one decision.”
Mr. Corsbie informed the jury that it was “one brief moment, one decision.”
He stated that Mr. George “instantly lost consciousness … and his heart ceased beating.”
The prosecution claimed that Mr. Tuiasau reacted violently after finding out that Mr. George had supposedly attacked a woman he knew inside the nightclub.
“The prosecution does not claim the accused meant to kill him,” the prosecutor said, but argued that Mr. Tuiasau eventually “lost control” following a buildup of events that night.
The court heard that witnesses are expected to testify they saw the two men hug and shake hands before parting ways.
But one witness is anticipated to say that not long after the punch, Mr Tuiasau allegedly remarked, “that is what you get.”
Mr Tuiasau’s defence lawyer, Craig Eberhardt KC, argued that his client acted lawfully in self-defence against “a drunk and aggressive man who had earlier sexually assaulted a woman that evening.”
He claimed Mr George had been under the influence of alcohol and cocaine and was behaving aggressively throughout the night.
“Mr Tuiasau struck Mr George once on the right cheek,” Mr Eberhardt told the jury.
“It is a tragedy that it resulted in his death.”
On Monday, the courtroom was filled with relatives and supporters of both Mr Tuiasau and Mr George.
A jury made up of eight men and four women has been selected, and the trial is expected to last five days.
