A lower grade Wests Tigers player was the driver during an armed break-and-enter robbery in which police allege a gun was fired and one of the victims was told their friend was murdered.
Iverson Fuatimau, a Western Suburbs winger who trained with the Tigers’ top squad over the summer of 2022 after being given a train-and-trial contract, faces jail time after pleading guilty to aggravated break and enter and robbery in company. The 23-year-old will be sentenced in Campbelltown District Court next week.
Fuatimau drove two other men, who have been charged over the home invasion at St Helens Park, in a maroon Haval H2, in May, 2022.
According to the statement of agreed facts in relation to the proceedings against Fuatimau, obtained by this masthead, the two men jumped the back fence of the residence while Fuatimau remained in the car on lookout. One of the occupants, who was home at the time, noticed the men outside and convinced two of his friends to come over.
It is alleged the two men broke into the house, one of them brandishing a silver pistol, with only the occupant able to escape. While Fuatimau waited in the car, the men allegedly threatened the lives of the occupants’ friends. It’s alleged both victims had their pockets emptied and were tied up in separate rooms of the house.
Police say the two men demanded to know where “papers” and other valuables were kept, despite both stating they didn’t live there and or know where they were.
Iverson Fuatimau in action for Western Suburbs.
It is further alleged one of the men brandished a knife, the other a gun. The one with the gun allegedly held it against the temple of the victim in the lounge room “three or four times and threatened to shoot [him] in the head and put a hole in him.”
The man with the gun then allegedly then went back over to the victim in the ensuite and put it to the other victim’s head, cocked the pistol twice and removed two of the bullets. Police allege one of the bullets landed in the shower, the gunman picked up the other one and said “there was one bullet going through each of your heads if you don’t tell me what I wanted”.
He then allegedly reloaded the bullet, closed the door to the ensuite, went into the walk-in wardrobe of the main bedroom and then fired the pistol into the wall, just missing one of the victim’s heads.
It’s alleged the man told the victim in the ensuite: “I’ve just put a bullet through [your friend’s] head. You’re next.”
It’s further alleged the man continued to threaten the victim as he and the other man ransacked the house. Police say the other man then said, “We have to put holes in them both now and finish them because they saw our faces.”
Police say the men eventually left after stealing two handbags, old mobile phones, an iPad, jewellery, a bottle of perfume and a box of Christmas lights, but not before threatening another of the occupants’ friends, who arrived on the scene after heeding the SOS call.
This prompted Fuatimau to yell to them, “Let’s go, let’s get out of here.”
Police say they instead stole the car of one of the men who was held at gunpoint in the house. When the police eventually pulled them over, it’s alleged one of the two men claimed he was the “victim” of a kidnapping.
When the allegedly stolen car was searched, police say they found a silver .38 super automatic calibre Strayer Voigt pistol with a spent cartridge in the chamber, and a black Glock-style Gel Blaster pistol. Police also arrested Fuatimau, who was driving in the Haval. It is not alleged by the Crown that Fuatimau was aware of the presence or use of weapons during the incident.
Fuatimau, who made three appearances for the Magpies in 2022, was considered a chance of making his NRL debut prior to the incident. In February of that year, Tigers winger David Nofoaluma spoke about Fuatimau’s impact during the pre-season.
“We also have a young kid called Iverson Fuatimau, who has had a few training sessions playing on my inside and doing a good job,” Nofoaluma told News Corp when discussing outside back options.
Fuatimau is no longer a Tigers contracted player. The Tigers declined to comment. Fuatimau engaged high-profile lawyer Elias Tabchouri to act on his behalf. Tabchouri declined to comment.
The details emerge just a week after Tigers junior Masei Tavui was charged with the murder of Dejan “Danny the Serb” Radulovic in Sydney’s inner west.
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