Teens sentenced over Kefu home invasion 'war zone'
Before entering an ex-Wallabies star's family home, a boy told his teenage accomplice: "If someone wakes up, you just stab them".
Armed with knives including a sickle, two boys broke into former Australian rugby player Toutai Kefu's Brisbane house in the early hours of August 16, 2021 to steal car keys.
The blood-splattered Kefu family home resembled a "war zone" after the horror home invasion.
Mr Kefu suffered a "life-threatening" 25mm stab wound to his liver while his wife Rachel was cut to the bone by the sickle in a confrontation with the boys.
"Only two episodes of surgery have prevented the complete loss of function of her hand and wrist," Justice Peter Davis said.
"As it is, even after surgery, she is partially disabled."
Their son Joshua suffered multiple cuts as he tried to intervene and daughter Madison was also injured.
The boys - then aged 15 - were sentenced in Brisbane Supreme Court almost three years later after earlier pleading guilty to charges including malicious act with intent.
"Police took photographs of the scene ... they showed blood splashed and smeared in substantial quantities on the floor and on the walls," Justice Davis said at Thursday's sentencing.
"It frankly looks like a war zone.
"But we know that it is a result of your violent invasion and attack upon the occupants of a family home in a quiet Brisbane suburban street."
The court had been told Mrs Kefu woke about 3am to the sound of car doors before finding the boys inside the home.
A boy told her to shut up or he would kill her, demanding car keys.
Mr Kefu was woken by her screams and told the teens to leave, with the couple gesturing to car keys in a bowl.
"There was nothing stopping you from leaving," Justice Davis said.
Then a boy struck Mrs Kefu a "savage blow" on the forearm with the sickle, described by the judge as a "wicked weapon".
In the ensuing confrontation Mr Kefu charged at the 15-year-olds with a bar stool and was stabbed.
"The blade entered his rib cage, severed an artery and penetrated his liver," Justice Davis said.
"This was an injury which would have been fatal had medical attention not been obtained."
Apart from severe physical injuries, the incident has impacted on Mrs Kefu's mental health, the court heard.
"Mr and Mrs Kefu ...had done absolutely nothing wrong," Justice Davis said.
"They were peacefully occupying their house with their five children.
"Any actions and violence by Mr Kefu ... were completely and totally justified."
Their son was injured in a struggle with a boy after coming to his parents' aid while their daughter was cut when she tried to help her mother to her feet after slipping in blood.
Neighbour Ben Cannon, alerted to the attack, tackled one teen and pinned him down until police arrived.
One boy was sentenced to eight years in custody and the other seven.
Justice Davis said they must serve half their sentences before they can be released.
One boy is set to be released early next year because of time served.
The teens have been in detention since 2021.
No convictions were recorded.
Two other boys - aged 15 and 13 - who remained in a car outside the house during the attack were sentenced in February.
They each received two-and-a-half year sentences, with a 50 per cent minimum to be served and no convictions recorded.
