The family of a young woman punched and pushed in the face in a road rage incident has broken down outside a Gold Coast court as the man responsible walked free.

Key points: Judge calls Valusaga's behaviour "excessive" and "unacceptable"

Judge calls Valusaga's behaviour "excessive" and "unacceptable" Good character references from family and work colleagues taken into account

Good character references from family and work colleagues taken into account Victim's friend called the outcome "a slap on the wrist"

Daniel Valusaga, 32, was given a wholly suspended 15-month sentence after pleading guilty to assaulting 22-year-old Kume Harris in January 2017.

Valusaga was previously acquitted for assaulting the victim's father in the same incident, but pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm towards Ms Harris.

The court heard Valusaga had approached the Harris family's car during the incident and that Ms Harris was in the car with her father and mother at the time.

The court heard Ms Harris jumped out of the car to defend her father during a fist fight between him and Valusaga.

She was trying to pull Valusaga away from her father when he turned around and palmed her in the face, before punching her.

The court heard when she grabbed Valusaga's arm again he palmed her in the face one more time.

In sentencing, Judge Katherine McGinness said the trial, which would normally have been dealt with in the Magistrates Court, had proceeded to the District Court due to Valusaga's prior offences.

"It's amazing that you have not learned from earlier penalties imposed on you," Judge McGinness said.

"If you had not approached the family, this would not have happened."

Valusaga admitted to punching Kume Harris in the face in the road rage attack. ( Supplied: Channel Nine )

Judge McGinness said his violent behaviour directed at a young woman who was much smaller than him was "excessive" and "unacceptable".

In 2009, Valusaga was sentenced to nine years in jail for the manslaughter of 18-year-old Solomone Christopher Latu.

Valusaga had gone to a party armed with a knife and meat cleaver, to seek revenge on the people who had beaten up his younger brother, Leon Valusaga.

In sentencing, Judge McGinness said she had taken into consideration Valusaga's history of violent offences, along with character references from his family and colleagues.

McGinness said it was clear Valusaga's employers thought highly of him and that he came from a close-knit family.

The court also heard he had progressed within a company he joined in 2013 after being released from prison, and had since become financially responsible for his mother, brother and sister.

Speaking to Valusaga's defence barrister, Judge McGinness said Valusaga was aware he had the support of his family.

"Your client knows he's a very lucky man to have that level of support," she said.

'I just felt like screaming'

Outside court, Ms Harris' family broke down in response to the judge's decision.

Ms Harris' 24-year-old sister Grace was in court and said she was speechless upon hearing the judge's ruling.

"I actually felt like just screaming while we were in there — I can't even put it into words," Ms Harris said.

"To me, he's just a monster. He's going to do it to someone else in the street, and sure enough, it's going to be another girl."

Kume Harris' sister Grace Harris (L) and family friend Sarah Mackay were very upset by the judge's ruling. ( ABC News: Rhea Abraham )

Sarah Mackay, a friend of the Harris family who was in court during the sentencing, said the family would be devastated by the news their attacker walked from court with a suspended sentence.

"I know for a fact they're very upset — I know Kume is very upset."

A victim impact statement tendered in court described how the incident had left Ms Harris traumatised with flashbacks of the event, and afraid of men in public places.

"She doesn't go out without her father or her boyfriend now because she's afraid of men," Ms Mackay said.

"I'm disgusted. He walked free. He got a slap on the wrist.

"This just sends a message that violence against women is tolerated in our society because all you have to say is I didn't know she was female... and that one punch is tolerated."

Valusaga's family did not respond to questions from the media outside court.

Valusaga was asked if he would like to say anything to the victim or her family, but also declined to speak.

The court ordered he pay $1,500 in compensation to Ms Harris.

The Harris family said the money meant nothing to them.