<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The bereaved family of a young expectant father at Sydney's Royal Easter Show, who died in a "sudden and senseless" stabbing, say his life was cut short in a cruel encounter.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The teenager, who stabbed him, was acquitted of murder in November but pleaded guilty to manslaughter after arguing he did not intend to seriously injure when he lunged at and stabbed Uati 'Pele' Faletolu in April 2022.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The knife penetrated the heart of the 17-year-old ride attendant, who was on a break and meeting two friends.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-royal-easter-show-stabbing-death/92f7854c-0ef0-48cf-adac-59324a36804b" rel="" target="" title="'Impulsive' teen cleared of Easter show stabbing murder"><strong><span>'Impulsive' teen cleared of Easter show stabbing murder</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A handful of the Faletolu family dressed in black were in court today as they read victim impact statements.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wiping away tears, the slain teenager's mother, Janice, said the loss is "a parent's worst nightmare".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Seeing my son's body the way it was, it's something you can't see," she said, taking long pauses as she carefully read her words.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/nothing-is-the-same-family-grieve-for-teen-killed-at-sydney-royal-easter-show/41a7fd78-042d-4b99-8906-943cccd583ac" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That night has altered our lives ... nothing is the same, everything has changed."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Nervously reading her out her statement quickly, Uati's girlfriend, Taylor Piliae, who was about three months pregnant when he was stabbed, remembered him fondly.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She recounted how she was afraid of a miscarriage when she bled and that his death made her numb.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Struggling with anxiety and depression, Piliae called out users sharing images of Uati's lifeless body on social media while making cruel jokes, saying it caused her distress.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The single mother said she battled suicidal thoughts while raising a new baby, adding his father should have been alive for her son's special moments.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"How do I tell my child that the most cruel thing that could happen, happened to his dad?" she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wearing a black shirt bearing a picture of her brother with a beaming smile, his sister said his killing was "violent, sudden and senseless".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/new-zealand-faberge-egg-swallow/2a6ee1d6-cd26-4eb8-85a8-0faedf641bd2" target="_blank"><strong><span>New Zealand man charged with theft after allegedly swallowing Fabergé egg</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"My brother's life had meaning," she said, sobbing.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Holding the person accountable is the only justice available to us."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The confrontation occurred by chance after the killer and two friends - all members of an apparent rival street gang - crossed paths with Uati.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Within 10 seconds, the then 14-year-old lunged through a gap in his friends, knifed Uati once and then bolted.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The teen typed a note into his phone after the stabbing with the words "I didn't beat him up, I took his soul".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Prosecutors argued the teen's motivation to kill was underlined by self-stated animosity towards people associated with Uati's street gang.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In November, Justice Peter Garling dismissed the post-killing statements as the boasts of an adolescent trying to bolster an image of being a gang member.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A jury at an earlier trial was discharged after it could not reach a verdict in May.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Justice Garling will deliver the sentence on December 19.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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