A man who rained repeated blows on another man's head at a taxi rank during a night out, killing him, has been sentenced to 11 years behind bars for manslaughter.
A jury found Peniola Kimi Liu, 32, not guilty of murdering Innisfail man Alexander Ollson, but Liu pleaded guilty to the lesser charge at the start of his trial.
The Supreme Court in Cairns heard Mr Ollson had slapped the backside of a distant relative of Liu's partner during a night out in the Far North Queensland town on December 18, 2020.
Liu took objection to it but Mr Ollson kept walking without incident.
However, as the groups parted ways, Liu became enraged after Mr Ollson allegedly called Liu's partner a "big hole".
He approached Mr Ollson and punched him to the head, returning twice more to strike him each time Mr Ollson tried to get up.
Mr Ollson's head struck a grate on the ground after the third series of blows. He died at the scene.
Liu testified he kept going back and assaulting Mr Ollson because he wanted him to stay down.
In sentencing, Justice Jim Henry said the case was more serious than others involving attackers whose minds were "so muddled by alcohol, drugs or emotional stressors that they offend in an unthinking outburst of violence".
"You intended your blows would have the consequence that he would no longer get up," Justice Henry said in sentencing.
"This carries this case beyond the seriousness of manslaughter cases involving one or a brief flurry of punches."
Attack 'devastating' for family
Justice Henry said Liu would have to serve at least 80 per cent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole, as a declared serious violent offender.
The court had previously heard Liu, a Tongan national, is almost certain to be deported once released.
Liu's first trial late last year resulted in a hung jury.
He had no previous criminal convictions.
Justice Henry said he accepted Liu was now remorseful for the crime.
His sentencing remarks highlighted the "devastating consequences" on Mr Ollson's loved ones, including his father Stephen, sister Kimberley and the mother of his children, Jesse, who provided victim impact statements to the court.
"Mr Ollson was still a young man and, like you, a parent," Justice Henry said.
"His children have forever been deprived of their father.
"It is inevitable that words alone cannot capture the magnitude of the consequences of your crime for Mr Ollson's loved ones or for the life which you extinguished."
