Six youths charged in violent attack at Box Hill shopping precinct
Julie Tullberg, Aaron Langmaid
From: Herald Sun
March 18, 2010 6:54PM
UPDATE 6.33am: A BYSTANDER was injured when a gang of teens attacked another group with knives and chairs at a shopping centre.
Police have charged six men following the violent fight at a shopping precinct in Melbourne's east.
The brawl broke out at the Whitehorse Plaza shopping centre in Box Hill at about 5pm yesterday, police said.
The armed group set upon the second group, with the fight eventually spilling on to Whitehorse Road and surrounding streets.
One bystander suffered a cut to the head but did not need medical treatment.
Witnesses say a man was armed with a hammer and another with a wooden stake during the incident which resulted in peak-hour train commuters scurrying to safety at Box Hill Central's shopping precinct yesterday.
Customers were forced to hide in stores at the shopping precinct as the youths frightened commuters and shoppers.
Victoria Police spokeswoman Senior Constable Karla Dennis said the men were charged after a fight at the Centro Whitehorse Plaza yesterday afternoon.
"Police arrested nine men and three were released without charge," Sen-Constable Dennis said.
"The other six, ranging in ages from 18 - 23 years and from the eastern and south eastern suburbs were charged with affray."
A witness who did not want to be identified described how at least 10 young men, of Sudanese appearance, stalked the streets for more than 20 minutes apparently hunting members of a Maori gang.
"I told my wife to go hide in one of the shops,'' the man said."I was actually really worried about what was going to happen."They were grabbing whatever they could to hit these other blokes... just walking around with total disregard for how much they were scaring people."The six men were bailed to appear in the Ringwood Magistrates' Court at a date to be fixed.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Jury in Irish tourist bashing case told to keep deliberating
MALCOLM BROWN March 16, 2010 - 1:27PM
from the Sydney morning herald
A jury in the trial of a man who helped bash an Irish tourist to within an inch of his life has been told to continue its deliberations after informing the judge today that it was unable to reach a verdict.
Thomas Isaako, 21, a Bankstown scaffolder, has been charged with the attempted murder of David Keohane in Brooks Street, Coogee, in the early hours of July 9, 2008.
He and another man, Kane Tupuolamoui, were alleged to have beaten Mr Keohane, then 29, so severely that virtually every bone in his face was fractured and he came very close to dying.
The two men, who on the evidence had been drinking and had been smashing car windows with a pole as they walked along the street, made off after allegedly taking Mr Keohane's wallet.
Mr Keohane was found lying in a pool of blood. He was given medical treatment and later returned to Ireland where he spent more than a year in hospital.
Isaako, who volunteered to be interviewed by police, said he and Mr Tupuolamoui, after they had been drinking, decided to "roll" someone.
They had come across Mr Keohane who was returning home with a pizza and attacked him. Isaako had thrown "four or five" punches and Mr Tupuolamoui "eight or nine" and Isaako had asked Mr Tupuolamoui to stop hitting the victim.
In the NSW District Court, Judge Ron Soloman had said in his summing up that the jury had to be satisfied that Isaako had inflicted grievous bodily harm with intent to kill Mr Keohane.
He said there was no direct evidence of intent to kill, so the jury, in order to find Isaako guilty, would have to draw an inference from the established facts, being the number, or force, of the blows.
The judge referred to a submission by Nathan Steel, counsel for Isaako that the jury should draw an inference that Isaako's intent was not to murder Mr Keohane but to rob him.
Judge Soloman said that, if the jury were to find Isaako guilty of attempted murder, it had to be satisfied that the only reasonable inference was that he intended to kill Mr Keohane.
He said that evidence of intoxication could be taken into account in deciding whether Isaako had a specific intent.
If the jury found that Mr Tupuolamoui had formed the intent to kill, the judge said, then Isaako could be found guilty on the grounds that the two had participated in a joint criminal enterprise.
Isaako has already pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated robbery and assault occasioning grievous bodily harm arising from the incident.
Late this morning, the jury handed a note to Judge Soloman stating that it was unable to reach a verdict.
However, Judge Soloman has asked the jury to continue its deliberations.
Police said outside the court that a warrant for Mr Tupuolamoui's arrest was still outstanding.
MALCOLM BROWN March 16, 2010 - 1:27PM
from the Sydney morning herald
A jury in the trial of a man who helped bash an Irish tourist to within an inch of his life has been told to continue its deliberations after informing the judge today that it was unable to reach a verdict.
Thomas Isaako, 21, a Bankstown scaffolder, has been charged with the attempted murder of David Keohane in Brooks Street, Coogee, in the early hours of July 9, 2008.
He and another man, Kane Tupuolamoui, were alleged to have beaten Mr Keohane, then 29, so severely that virtually every bone in his face was fractured and he came very close to dying.
The two men, who on the evidence had been drinking and had been smashing car windows with a pole as they walked along the street, made off after allegedly taking Mr Keohane's wallet.
Mr Keohane was found lying in a pool of blood. He was given medical treatment and later returned to Ireland where he spent more than a year in hospital.
Isaako, who volunteered to be interviewed by police, said he and Mr Tupuolamoui, after they had been drinking, decided to "roll" someone.
They had come across Mr Keohane who was returning home with a pizza and attacked him. Isaako had thrown "four or five" punches and Mr Tupuolamoui "eight or nine" and Isaako had asked Mr Tupuolamoui to stop hitting the victim.
In the NSW District Court, Judge Ron Soloman had said in his summing up that the jury had to be satisfied that Isaako had inflicted grievous bodily harm with intent to kill Mr Keohane.
He said there was no direct evidence of intent to kill, so the jury, in order to find Isaako guilty, would have to draw an inference from the established facts, being the number, or force, of the blows.
The judge referred to a submission by Nathan Steel, counsel for Isaako that the jury should draw an inference that Isaako's intent was not to murder Mr Keohane but to rob him.
Judge Soloman said that, if the jury were to find Isaako guilty of attempted murder, it had to be satisfied that the only reasonable inference was that he intended to kill Mr Keohane.
He said that evidence of intoxication could be taken into account in deciding whether Isaako had a specific intent.
If the jury found that Mr Tupuolamoui had formed the intent to kill, the judge said, then Isaako could be found guilty on the grounds that the two had participated in a joint criminal enterprise.
Isaako has already pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated robbery and assault occasioning grievous bodily harm arising from the incident.
Late this morning, the jury handed a note to Judge Soloman stating that it was unable to reach a verdict.
However, Judge Soloman has asked the jury to continue its deliberations.
Police said outside the court that a warrant for Mr Tupuolamoui's arrest was still outstanding.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Italian drug racket
Police crack gun and drug ring running across Victoria and NSW after early morning raids
Matthew Schulz
From: Herald Sun
March 10, 2010 1:25PM
these criminals were named on the TV news as italians.
POLICE say they have cracked a sophisticated drug and gun racket spread across Victoria and NSW after 19 raids early this morning.
NSW organised crime squad detectives, along with Victoria Police officers, arrested nine people, with several still being questioned, after simultaneous dawn raids.
Police claim the raids follow a lengthy probe in a “highly-organised entity operating under a hierarchical family structure”.
The operation code-named strike force Baranbali has been running since July last year.
The men arrested today ranged from 26 to 69 years of age, all from NSW.
It is understood Victorians are still helping police with inquiries after five search warrants in Mildura this morning.
The raids are continuing, with police so far uncovering guns, drugs including steroids, and a pill-press.
Police are also testing what they believe are precursor chemicals and equipment at several locations used to make drugs.
NSW Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis said the operation had meant “successful inroads into alleged criminal activities on an extensive basis”.
Matthew Schulz
From: Herald Sun
March 10, 2010 1:25PM
these criminals were named on the TV news as italians.
POLICE say they have cracked a sophisticated drug and gun racket spread across Victoria and NSW after 19 raids early this morning.
NSW organised crime squad detectives, along with Victoria Police officers, arrested nine people, with several still being questioned, after simultaneous dawn raids.
Police claim the raids follow a lengthy probe in a “highly-organised entity operating under a hierarchical family structure”.
The operation code-named strike force Baranbali has been running since July last year.
The men arrested today ranged from 26 to 69 years of age, all from NSW.
It is understood Victorians are still helping police with inquiries after five search warrants in Mildura this morning.
The raids are continuing, with police so far uncovering guns, drugs including steroids, and a pill-press.
Police are also testing what they believe are precursor chemicals and equipment at several locations used to make drugs.
NSW Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis said the operation had meant “successful inroads into alleged criminal activities on an extensive basis”.
Bashed by an ethnic
From the Nine News website titled "Lone man targeted for robbery: court"
17:34 AEST Wed Mar 10 2010
Irishman David Keohane was bashed and robbed because he was the only person walking down a Sydney street in the early hours of August 9, 2008.
In a recorded police interview played to a Sydney jury, his attacker admitted jogging towards the stranger, before he hit him on the side of his face and "he just dropped".
Earlier in the NSW District Court on Wednesday, Dr Vanessa Sammons said Mr Keohane's head injuries were so bad that doctors believed he would be lucky to survive.
Dr Sammons, the neurosurgeon registrar who treated him until he returned to Ireland, said his Glasgow Coma Score had been three, "akin to someone who is deceased".
Thomas Isaako, 21, of Bankstown, has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Mr Keohane, 29, at Coogee.
The scaffolder has pleaded guilty to robbery in company and inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Keohane.
The scaffolder has pleaded guilty to robbery in company and inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Keohane.
In his police interview, Isaako said that after drinking at the Coogee Bay Hotel, a companion suggested they "roll" someone, which he said meant "bash someone and take their stuff".
As they turned a corner, Mr Keohane was "the only person I could see. There was no one else."
Isaako said that after hitting Mr Keohane and seeing him fall to the ground, he punched him four more times before telling his companion to stop hitting him.
Asked what he thought was wrong with Mr Keohane when he left him lying on the ground, Isaako said: "I think he was, just like, hurt."
Asked if he thought of calling an ambulance, he replied: "After that I was just in my own world."
Dr Sammons told the jury Mr Keohane's whole face was fractured and she recalled looking at the CT scan and thinking "what could possibly have caused that extent of damage".
"To have the degree and number of fractures that David had, I cannot imagine that what happened was one or two blows," she said.
"It must have been multiple and from multiple directions."
She remembered conversations at the hospital when doctors agreed his prognosis had been very poor and "we thought he would do very poorly and he would be lucky to survive".
"In my first conversation with David's family, I said he could possibly live, but he would never be the person he was."
She said that on September 15, 2008, Mr Keohane went back to Ireland on a commercial flight with doctors and nurses in attendance, adding that he had to go on a stretcher.
Under cross-examination from Isaako's barrister, Nathan Steel, Dr Sammons said it was not possible certain injuries resulted from Mr Keohane having fallen backwards.
Mr Steel asked if some of the injuries could be from falling.
"It would have to be that he hit things with his head several times in the course of a single fall," she replied.
The trial is continuing before judge Ronald Solomon.
17:34 AEST Wed Mar 10 2010
Irishman David Keohane was bashed and robbed because he was the only person walking down a Sydney street in the early hours of August 9, 2008.
In a recorded police interview played to a Sydney jury, his attacker admitted jogging towards the stranger, before he hit him on the side of his face and "he just dropped".
Earlier in the NSW District Court on Wednesday, Dr Vanessa Sammons said Mr Keohane's head injuries were so bad that doctors believed he would be lucky to survive.
Dr Sammons, the neurosurgeon registrar who treated him until he returned to Ireland, said his Glasgow Coma Score had been three, "akin to someone who is deceased".
Thomas Isaako, 21, of Bankstown, has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Mr Keohane, 29, at Coogee.
The scaffolder has pleaded guilty to robbery in company and inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Keohane.
The scaffolder has pleaded guilty to robbery in company and inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Keohane.
In his police interview, Isaako said that after drinking at the Coogee Bay Hotel, a companion suggested they "roll" someone, which he said meant "bash someone and take their stuff".
As they turned a corner, Mr Keohane was "the only person I could see. There was no one else."
Isaako said that after hitting Mr Keohane and seeing him fall to the ground, he punched him four more times before telling his companion to stop hitting him.
Asked what he thought was wrong with Mr Keohane when he left him lying on the ground, Isaako said: "I think he was, just like, hurt."
Asked if he thought of calling an ambulance, he replied: "After that I was just in my own world."
Dr Sammons told the jury Mr Keohane's whole face was fractured and she recalled looking at the CT scan and thinking "what could possibly have caused that extent of damage".
"To have the degree and number of fractures that David had, I cannot imagine that what happened was one or two blows," she said.
"It must have been multiple and from multiple directions."
She remembered conversations at the hospital when doctors agreed his prognosis had been very poor and "we thought he would do very poorly and he would be lucky to survive".
"In my first conversation with David's family, I said he could possibly live, but he would never be the person he was."
She said that on September 15, 2008, Mr Keohane went back to Ireland on a commercial flight with doctors and nurses in attendance, adding that he had to go on a stretcher.
Under cross-examination from Isaako's barrister, Nathan Steel, Dr Sammons said it was not possible certain injuries resulted from Mr Keohane having fallen backwards.
Mr Steel asked if some of the injuries could be from falling.
"It would have to be that he hit things with his head several times in the course of a single fall," she replied.
The trial is continuing before judge Ronald Solomon.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Indian taxi driver assaults passenger
Taxi driver arrested over sexual assault of woman passenger
ROBYN GRACE March 8, 2010 - 2:53PM
from The Age
on TV the driver was identified as Raj Singh
A 21-year-old taxi driver has been arrested over the sexual assault of a woman passenger late last year.
Police allege the man assaulted the 40-year-old woman during a journey from Richmond's Corner Hotel to Melbourne’s northern suburbs on November 21.
Senior Constable Karla Dennis said the man, from Niddrie in Melbourne’s north, would be interviewed shortly at Preston police station.
ROBYN GRACE March 8, 2010 - 2:53PM
from The Age
on TV the driver was identified as Raj Singh
A 21-year-old taxi driver has been arrested over the sexual assault of a woman passenger late last year.
Police allege the man assaulted the 40-year-old woman during a journey from Richmond's Corner Hotel to Melbourne’s northern suburbs on November 21.
Senior Constable Karla Dennis said the man, from Niddrie in Melbourne’s north, would be interviewed shortly at Preston police station.
Indian stabbs another in the neck
Man's neck stabbed in Lalor fight
Staff writers
From: Herald Sun
March 08, 2010 2:30PM
I will pos tthis item here although there is no mention of the nationality of the attacker. On the TV news the pictures appeared very much like he was Indian. i will update this when it becomes available.
A MAN is in a serious condition in hospital after being stabbed in the neck during an argument at his Lalor home.
The 33-year-old man was stabbed about 11.30am and has been taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a serious condition.
A 44-year-old man, also from Lalor, has been taken into custody and will be interviewed by detectives later today.
Police believe the parties are known to each other.
Staff writers
From: Herald Sun
March 08, 2010 2:30PM
I will pos tthis item here although there is no mention of the nationality of the attacker. On the TV news the pictures appeared very much like he was Indian. i will update this when it becomes available.
A MAN is in a serious condition in hospital after being stabbed in the neck during an argument at his Lalor home.
The 33-year-old man was stabbed about 11.30am and has been taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a serious condition.
A 44-year-old man, also from Lalor, has been taken into custody and will be interviewed by detectives later today.
Police believe the parties are known to each other.
Indian murder
An article from the ABC news website titled "man charged over Indian toddlers death"
on 7/3/10
A 23-year-old man has appeared at an out of sessions court hearing in Melbourne charged over the death of three-year-old Gurshan Singh.
The Indian boy went missing from a house in Lalor in Melbourne's north last Thursday and his body was found hours later on the side of a road near Melbourne Airport.
Gursewak Dhillon of Lalor has been charged with manslaughter by criminal negligence.
The court heard Dhillon allegedly put the unconscious toddler in the boot of a car and drove around for three hours.
It is alleged he then dumped him on the side of a road without checking if he was alive.
The hearing was told the man is not related to the boy.
Dhillon was refused bail and will reappear in the Melbourne Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
Mystery has surrounded the toddler's death and an autopsy failed to determine how the boy died.
Earlier, detectives released details of a car that was seen in the area where Gurshan's body was discovered.
They were looking for information or any sightings of a green VR or VT Commodore that was spotted in the area around St Johns and Wildwood roads on Thursday afternoon.
The family is waiting for police to release the boy's body before deciding when to head back to India.
An Indian student group in Australia has offered to pay for the body to be flown home.
A spokesman for the Federation of Indian Students of Australia, Gautam Gupta, says the organisation has offered to assist the boy's family using its victims of crime fund.
He says he has not heard back from the boy's parents yet.
"But our offer stands and we will do whatever else is required because we do understand that they are in a a very difficult situation," he said.
"The more the community shows support, it will at least heal their wounds a little bit."
India's opposition has demanded a parliamentary debate on the case, which Indian community leaders in Australia fear could reignite tensions between the two countries.
Australia's Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has been in India on a fence-mending expedition, trying to calm anger about allegedly racist attacks on Indian students in Victoria.
on 7/3/10
A 23-year-old man has appeared at an out of sessions court hearing in Melbourne charged over the death of three-year-old Gurshan Singh.
The Indian boy went missing from a house in Lalor in Melbourne's north last Thursday and his body was found hours later on the side of a road near Melbourne Airport.
Gursewak Dhillon of Lalor has been charged with manslaughter by criminal negligence.
The court heard Dhillon allegedly put the unconscious toddler in the boot of a car and drove around for three hours.
It is alleged he then dumped him on the side of a road without checking if he was alive.
The hearing was told the man is not related to the boy.
Dhillon was refused bail and will reappear in the Melbourne Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
Mystery has surrounded the toddler's death and an autopsy failed to determine how the boy died.
Earlier, detectives released details of a car that was seen in the area where Gurshan's body was discovered.
They were looking for information or any sightings of a green VR or VT Commodore that was spotted in the area around St Johns and Wildwood roads on Thursday afternoon.
The family is waiting for police to release the boy's body before deciding when to head back to India.
An Indian student group in Australia has offered to pay for the body to be flown home.
A spokesman for the Federation of Indian Students of Australia, Gautam Gupta, says the organisation has offered to assist the boy's family using its victims of crime fund.
He says he has not heard back from the boy's parents yet.
"But our offer stands and we will do whatever else is required because we do understand that they are in a a very difficult situation," he said.
"The more the community shows support, it will at least heal their wounds a little bit."
India's opposition has demanded a parliamentary debate on the case, which Indian community leaders in Australia fear could reignite tensions between the two countries.
Australia's Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has been in India on a fence-mending expedition, trying to calm anger about allegedly racist attacks on Indian students in Victoria.
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