CCTV footage shows bouncer who stomped on man’s head was punched first, now facing abuse, death threats and racism

Thursday, 4 March 2021

A second video showed the intoxicated man assault Pavali Logovae after being denied entry to Boston on Blair. (Video first published March 2021).

A Wellington bouncer who was filmed stomping on a man’s head while he lay on the ground says he regrets his actions, but that he acted in self-defence and now fears for his life after receiving death threats.

Pavali Logovae was punched in the face and chest in the early hours of Sunday morning, by a man he had turned away from Boston on Blair bar on Blair St in the central city.

A brawl then broke out between the man and a group of bouncers, including Logovae, who got the man to the ground.

Video footage of part of the altercation posted on social media, showed Logovae stomping on the man’s head while he was on the ground and pushing a patio-style heater on top of him.

Bystander Kate Te Tau posted the video and was injured by the falling heater, which split open her lip, requiring stitches.

The full video of the incident from CCTV footage, has also now been posted online, showing the man first punch Logovae in the face while he wasn’t looking and then continuing to punch him.

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Pavali Logovae previously said he had suffered death threats, abuse and racism after a video of the assault was posted on social media. He receieved a cut to the finger during the altercation, which required about 17 stitches.

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The man was later transported to Wellington Hospital in moderate condition. A police spokeswoman said no arrests have been made yet.

Bystander Kate Te Tau was injured after being hit by the falling heater during the altercation and posted the original video on social media.

Speaking to Stuff, Logovae said he regretted the way he responded to the assault, but said he was scared for his life after being punched in the chest, as he underwent heart surgery late last year.

Logovae suffers from kidney and heart failure and is currently on dialysis.

“I was fearing for my life. I tried to defend myself, I was scared if someone punched me in my chest, as I just finished heart surgery. If I didn't handle it I would have been on the ground, and he would have stomped on my head, I know it.

“I was angry and scared at the same time. If it happened that way again would I change what happened? Yeah, I definitely would. I feel bad for what I did, but the only reason I did it was to defend myself, nothing else.”

Logovae said he is praying for the man’s recovery.

Since the incident was posted on social media, Logovae said he’s been subjected to death threats and racist attacks and now fears for his life, after receiving messages say people would “shoot up” the bar and stab him. He has experienced suicidal thoughts after seeing the abuse.

“People have threatened me online, saying, ‘Watch your back.’ Saying they’re going to come back and do a shoot-out and stab me. They’re saying I’m worthless, stuff like that. I’ve gotta stay low for a while.”

In his 14 years as a bouncer in Wellington, Logovae said he’s been “hit a couple of times” and has assaulted someone else in retaliation once previously.

He has had knives pulled on him, been spat on, received death threats and racial slurs and told to “go back to his own country”.

“We experience a lot of abuse. It happens every night. We are spat on and called names … all sorts of names, you name it. I wish everyone could work on the door and find out what it is like.”

“It comes with the job. Everyone is out to have a good time, but they get drunk and don’t like us telling them they can’t come in. They want to go overboard, and they don’t like us telling them they’ve had enough.”

“I’m just trying to work, that’s my only job to feed my two kids,” he said.

Logovae echoed concerns from others in hospitality that the central city environment has changed, with crime increasing and violence becoming more prevalant.

“There has definitely been an increase in gang members. All sorts of gangs are coming into Wellington. You can tell by the way they rep themselves, sometimes they walk around with patches, doing their marches, wearing their colours, pulling gang signs, everything.”

Another assault in the central city last weekend left a man, who Stuff understands is a Rebels MC gang associate, in a serious condition.

Police were alerted to two groups of people, some of whom were gang associates, fighting in the middle of Courtenay Place outside McDonald’s at about 2.45am.

A police spokeswoman said inquiries were ongoing and no charges have been laid yet.