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Gamer Luke Munday pleads guilty to live-streamed Fortnite assault

Margaret ScheikowskiAAP
VideoA man will face court after he allegedly assaulted a woman at a home in Sydney’s southwest all live-streaming while playing Fortnite.

A Sydney gamer has pleaded guilty to assaulting his pregnant partner after their argument was inadvertently live-streamed as he played Fortnite.

Luke James Munday pleaded guilty to common assault on Monday before magistrate Ian Cheetham in Picton Local Court.

See the shocking video in the player above. WARNING: graphic.

Munday, known online as MrDeadMoth, was using the streaming service Twitch to broadcast his game in December 2018.

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Video of the live-stream was viewed by millions of people around the world.
Camera IconVideo of the live-stream was viewed by millions of people around the world. Credit: 7NEWS

The Telstra network engineer and his partner argued over his online gaming activity, according to the agreed statement of facts.

She asked him to stop and eat dinner, and when he didn’t, she went into the office area of their home and told him she wanted him to eat with the family.

She asked him several times and each time he said he would be out soon.

“The victim stated she became frustrated with the lack of response,” the facts state.

After she threw objects at him and the computer, Munday stood up and slapped the left side of her face, before she threw further items and he pushed her to the floor.

The live streaming captured audio of the incident during which the woman “can be heard yelling and screaming before a loud slapping sound is heard followed by louder crying from the victim”.

Because of the positioning of the webcam, footage of the incident was not captured.

“Can you not? I said I’d be out soon,” Munday said on the audio.

“No computer. I’m sick of this s***,” his partner replied before sounds of someone being struck can then be heard followed by the victim wailing before she says: “You f***ing woman basher.”

More than two million people viewed the video and some watching while it happened called police after hearing the woman’s cries.

At the time, police said Munday’s 21-year-old victim, who was four months pregnant, was not seriously injured but was distressed and shaken by the assault.

They confirmed two toddlers - girls aged three and 20 months - were in the home at the time.

Court documents stated the accused showed remorse for his actions during the police interview and that he was aware his actions were inappropriate and that he “should not have done what he did”.

The court was told the woman has since been charged with common assault of Munday.

His sentencing was adjourned to August 26.

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