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Pair sent to prison for meat cleaver fight over who was better chef after appeal
Summary
Dawei Zhang, 38, and Han Chung Tang, 46, were sentenced by the Court of Appeal to two years and six months' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on condition of good behaviour, after their original 240‑hour community service sentence was deemed too lenient. The appeal court found that the pair, who were take‑away workers at Jumbo Wok in Kimmage, had a verbal dispute over who was the better chef that escalated into a violent fight in July 2019. Zhang and Tang each used meat cleavers, resulting in Tang suffering severe injuries, including a cleaver lodged in his back and a broken shoulder blade, and requiring blood transfusions. Zhang sustained lacerations to his scalp, chest and shoulder. Both pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and producing a knife. The Court of Appeal quashed the community service sentence and imposed the custodial term, citing the seriousness of the assault and the need for deterrence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Pair sent to prison for meat cleaver fight over who was better chef after appeal. Charges or matters: one count of assault causing harm and one count of producing a knife in the course of a dispute at the restaurant on July 27, 2019; the same charges. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- July 2019 Incident
- July 27, 2019 Incident
- 2025-01-30 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: one count of assault causing harm and one count of producing a knife in the course of a dispute at the restaurant on July 27, 2019; the same charges (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Dawei Zhang (38) and Han Chung Tang (46) were today sentenced by the three-judge Court of Appeal to two years and six months in prison with the final 12 months suspended on condition they be of good behaviour. Both men entered bonds to be of good behaviour during the period of their suspended sentence before being taken away by prison officers.
Appellant
Charges: one count of assault causing harm and one count of producing a knife in the course of a dispute at the restaurant on July 27, 2019; the same charges (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Dawei Zhang (38) and Han Chung Tang (46) were today sentenced by the three-judge Court of Appeal to two years and six months in prison with the final 12 months suspended on condition they be of good behaviour. Padraig Dwyer SC, for Tang, said that his client had attended an anger management course before Judge Baxter imposed sentence and had shown genuine remorse.
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