A confrontation following an NRL grand final turned deadly when an 18-year-old, Wesley Dates, allegedly fatally stabbed 18-year-old George Woods. The incident occurred on 1 October 2023, and both Wesley, now 20, and his brother Peter Dates, 22, are currently on trial at the NSW Supreme Court.
On the fateful night, the Dates brothers had been socialising with friends in an apartment in Miller, western Sydney, when they were joined by Woods and 19-year-old Joshua Ratu. Tensions escalated into a physical altercation between Peter and Ratu before Wesley joined the fray. Reports confirm that during the altercation, Wesley fatally stabbed Woods and seriously injured Ratu.
Wesley has pleaded guilty to wounding Ratu with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm and to the manslaughter of Woods; however, prosecutors are seeking a murder charge, arguing he acted with intent to kill or cause serious harm. If they fail to prove intent, they will pursue manslaughter as an alternative charge.
Wesley’s defence attorney, Tom Quilter, acknowledged that Wesley’s actions were wrong but claimed he acted in “excessive self-defence,” suggesting the stabbings weren’t intentional murders. In contrast, Peter’s involvement is being contested; prosecutors assert he and Wesley formed an agreement to inflict harm upon Ratu, while his lawyer, Denis Stewart, argues Peter was too intoxicated to have been aware of the situation and did not foresee the introduction of a knife.
The trial is examining the mental state and intentions of the brothers during the incident, with proceedings continuing under Justice Peter Hamill. The case underscores the tragedy of how a social gathering devolved into violence with devastating consequences.