Man in wheelchair 'stomped on, hit with bar' - Part 1

Channel 7 News - YouTube


9 News also on YouTube

For video of 2nd teen charged, and claims the victim provoked the attack, see - 7 News.

Radio 2GB's Jason Morrison interviews the police about the attack and Polynesian crime (mp3 here).

For Canadian media coverage of this attack see the Empathy Fail blog.

This 7 News video shows more of the attack.

Other videos ...

Mother of bashing victime heartbroken - Nine News
Attack on disabled man 'sickening' - ABC News
Second teen charged over wheelchair bashing - ABC News
Accused claims victim provoked attack -7 News
Another 7 News video here.

Vicious Sydney bashing horrifies family
The Daily Telegraph March 11, 2010

THE Canadian family of the wheelchair-bound man allegedly bashed with a metal bar in an unprovoked attack at a Sydney railway station is stunned by its brutality.

Shellan Proden, the mother of the victim, was horrified to learn that two teens had allegedly hit her 35-year-old son with metal bars before running off with his wheelchair in the 11pm assault on Tuesday.

"I can't believe a human being would do that to someone else," Ms Proden said."It's like a savage." ...

The man's Australian girlfriend, Kristin Sharrock, is wracked with guilt.

"He's been through a lot in his life and he doesn't deserve what's happened," she told a Canadian TV network.

"I'm sick to my stomach. He came out here for me and he ended up in hospital. And to think that he could have died." ...

Man in wheelchair 'stomped on, hit with bar'
Daily Telegraph March 10, 2010

A MAN in a wheelchair has been punched in the face, stomped on and hit on the head with metal bars at a train station in Sydney's west.

The 35-year-old Canadian national was trying to leave Mt Druitt station when two males began verbally intimidating him last night, police say.

As he entered the lift, one of the attackers allegedly punched him in the face, causing him to fall onto the ground.

The pair then stomped on his body, tried to take his chair and belongings, and struck his head with metal bars.

They allegedly returned a number of times to attack the man again with the bars, but were eventually arrested by police after a foot chase.

A 17-year-old boy is currently assisting with inquiries at Mt Druitt police station.

A search is under way for a second male, described as being of Pacific Islander appearance and aged in his teens...

Fate turns ugly again for family that knows about pain
Sydney Morning Herald March 10, 2010

Police have arrested and charged two youths, aged 16 and 15, over the alleged assault, which occurred as the 35-year-old waited alone at Mount Druitt train station, about 11pm on Tuesday.

Mr Proden had just watched his friends play a gig at a nearby pub and was waiting for a train, when the two teens approached him and "verbally intimidated" him, police allege.

He tried to take a train station lift to escape the boys but one of them allegedly punched him in the face, knocking him out of his wheelchair.

What allegedly followed was described by Mount Druitt Local Area Commander Superintendent Wayne Cox as a "calculated assault" and "one of the most serious attacks I've seen".

The youths allegedly stomped on Mr Proden, hitting him on the head and body with metal bars - one from the wheelchair, police said.

They then tried to take his wheelchair and belongings, before leaving.

But the attack resumed again a short time later, the youths allegedly returning to continue bashing Mr Proden with the bars from his wheelchair.

Mr Proden, who lives in Mosman and is in Australia on a year-long working visa, was in a stable condition in Westmead Hospital today after undergoing surgery for severe cuts to his head and a depression to his skull.

His girlfriend Kristin Sharrock, said she was disgusted by the assault.