Prison for 'savage' meat cleaver attacker

Diego Fakalata, 20, could not explain why he assaulted the 15-year-old boy at a McDonald's in Melbourne's southwest on April 21 last year.

Fakalata arrived armed at the Tarneit restaurant with his friends just after 6pm and approached the victim who was sitting with his 13-year-old cousin.

Without warning, Fakalata and one of his associates began repeatedly striking the 15-year-old boy with a meat cleaver.

The victim tried to protect his younger cousin by covering him with his body, while bystanders tried to pull Fakalata away.

The 20 year old eventually left the scene and the victim was hospitalised for a deep cut to his shoulder blade.

Fakalata admitted to a psychologist that he was using drugs, including Xanax and methamphetamine, on the night of the attack.

But Judge Richard Maidment noted he had not explained his reason for setting upon the two teenagers.

"It was a savage, ruthless and cowardly attack on totally defenceless young people," Judge Maidment said in his sentencing remarks on Thursday.

"You could have easily killed your victim."

Fakalata had a "very bad" criminal record for someone so young, Judge Maidment said, so a term of imprisonment was warranted.

But Fakalata was still only 20 so he should be given an opportunity for rehabilitation, the judge said.

Fakalata was sentenced to three years and nine months behind bars, with a non-parole period of two years and three months.

He has already served just over eight months in pre-sentence detention.

Australian Associated Press