sport news Manase Fainu reveals words that 'made him run away from the scene in fear' trends now
Manly Sea Eagles hooker Manase Fainu has told a jury he ran away scared from a brawl outside a Sydney church dance and still has no idea who stabbed a youth leader.
Fainu, 24, has pleaded not guilty to wounding Faamanu Levi with intent to cause grievous bodily harm at Wattle Grove late at night on October 25, 2019.
The NRL player entered the witness box in Parramatta District Court on Monday and denied any involvement in both altercations that culminated in the stabbing.
Fainu at the Parramatta District Court in Sydney. He is accused of using a steak knife to stab another man in the back outside a Mormon dance party in Sydney's southwest
When the violent brawl erupted outside the event organised by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Fainu said he backed right away.
'I started back peddling, walking backwards,' he said.
He said he watched the fighting for about a minute or two, and ran away 'scared for myself'.
'Were any words shouted?' defence barrister Margaret Cunneen SC asked.
'That's why I ran. I heard 'knife, knife',' Fainu said.
Wearing a sling from recent shoulder surgery, Fainu said he felt 'a bit depressed, bit down,' that evening not knowing whether he'd play football again for Manly.
Manase Fainu of the Sea Eagles during the Round 23 NRL match between the Canberra Raiders and the Manly Sea Eagles at GIO Stadium in Canberra, Sunday, August 25, 2019
Earlier he had been at a Guildford barbecue when his friend Uona Faingaa, known as 'Big Buck,' asked him to drive to the charity event so he could pick up money owed from a concreter he worked with.
Fainu says he was not drinking and drove four men to the charity event, but waited
