Updated on the heartbreaking condition of the 60-year-old man after he was brut@lly att@:cked by a group of five teenagers on Hampshire Road
A 60-year-old retail worker allegedly set upon by a group of youths after coming to another man’s aid is expected to die, a court has been told.
The shop worker was allegedly bashed by a group of five children, aged 12 to 15, on Hampshire Rd in Sunshine about 2pm on Saturday.
Police on Sunday charged the children, three boys aged 12, 13 and 15, and two girls, both aged 14, with charges including intentionally causing serious injury, affray and violent disorder.
It’s alleged the man was attacked on Hampshire Road, Sunshine. Picture: Supplied
Police arrested four teens in relation to the incident. Picture: Supplied
The cases against several of the children were called in a Children’s Court on Sunday evening when the youngest of the bunch sought bail to return home.
The 12-year-old boy’s mother told the court her son was a “top student” and she believed he did not know the other children well.
Through tears she expressed a concern for his mental health and physical safety if taken to a youth detention facility.
But a police officer called to outline the case said it was alleged the boy had engaged in “abhorrently violent behaviour”.
The court was told the 60-year-old alleged victim had his injuries deemed unsurvivable after attending hospital, and was expected to die in the coming hours or days.
It’s alleged a witness attempted to stop the two girls, who were holding stolen clothing items, before members of the group encircled him and “punched him to the head multiple times”.
The shop worker allegedly attempted to intervene, with the officer saying; “all co-accused collectively turned on (the man) and attacked him”.
It’s alleged the man fell and hit his head hard on the ground, with members of the group repeatedly striking him “for minutes” before fleeing.
The officer said it was believed the group committed the “callous, unprovoked and violent” attack to gain notoriety in the youth community.
“It’s fair to say the community would be outraged if the accused would be granted bail,” he said.
A man has been left in critical condition from the altercation. Picture: Supplied
The boy’s mother said her son was “very remorseful” and vowed that, if released, the family would monitor him when he’s not at school.
Magistrate Robyn Hamilton, however, said she would not grant the boy’s bail, noting his alleged actions had “resulted in the worst possible outcome”.
“(The boy) has good prospects for obtaining bail at the right time, but tonight is not that time,” she said.
Another boy, the 13-year-old, was granted bail by Ms Hamilton after police flagged “new” CCTV evidence that may exonerate him.
Senior Constable Jordan Gallagher-Lyon told the court the footage “could” result in the charges against the boy being withdrawn.
“It needs to be properly investigated,” he said.
“It does not have a bearing on the other young persons charged in relation to this incident”.
The incident comes just days after new Victorian Premier Ben Carroll used his first press conference to outline a new policy focused on retail worker safety.
Mr Carroll, who started his working life as a Kmart worker, announced the introduction of Workplace Protection Orders, which are designed to protect retail and service industry workers from customers with violent or abusive tendencies.
WPOs will function similarly to AVOs, and will “ban or limit people’s access to workplaces when they treat frontline workers unacceptably”.
SOURCE: NEWS.COM.AU
https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/at-work/retail-worker-critical-after-he-was-allegedly-attacked-by-teens-in-melbournes-west/news-story/a2a0c3901146765389fe1a1a63b5ed6b
