Teen girl charged after Asian women attacked
By ALEC SMART
A 17-year-old girl was arrested after two Asian women were racially abused and threatened in Marrickville in Sydney’s inner west whilst they were crossing a road.
The incident was filmed on several mobile phones, including a resident in a house overlooking the crossing, and widely shared on social media.
The assailant, a Caucasian woman in her late teens, intercepted the two Asians – sisters Rosa and Sophie Do – on Petersham Road crossing on 30 March and verbally abused them. She allegedly screamed, “Asian bitch! You brought corona here! Eat a bat again you dumb whore!”
She then allegedly spat in the eye of Rosa and tried to kick her, but a man intervened and shepherded the Asians to safety.
The 19-year-old victim, Rosa, a Vietnamese woman, was helped by witnesses to rinse her eye before seeking medical assistance to test for Covid-19.
Inner West Police Area Command later arrested a teenaged girl who allegedly launched the unprovoked attack and took her in for questioning. She was subsequently charged with three counts of Assault, Using Offensive Language in a Public Pace, and Stalking or Intimidation with Intent to Cause Fear or Physical or Mental Harm, then granted conditional bail to appear before a Children’s Court on 1 May 2020.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller warned that assaults involving deliberate spitting and coughing were ‘disgraceful’ and deserved severe punishment. “We’re arresting and charging people for spitting and coughing on people every day,” he said. “It’s a disgrace, putting aside the racial slur. Please report it, we will take actions.”
The NSW Govt is considering introducing a $500 for spitting. This follows on from videos uploaded to social media showing people deliberately coughing or spitting on supermarket employees if they were unable to purchase toilet paper or other items in short supply.
“If we see continual incline in people spitting and coughing on people then I won’t hesitate in asking for (more) powers,” Fuller warned. “Maybe it’s a $5000 fine that’ll sharpen people up on this…”
Cough attack
A teenage boy who coughed on a council ranger and attempted to spit on him was arrested and charged with assault.
On 29 March a council ranger was called to investigate a family camping illegally in Balls Head Reserve, a forested peninsula opposite Balmain’s Ballast Point across Parramatta River.
Police allege the 15-year-old, a member of the family, verbally abused the 54-year-old ranger before coughing on him and attempting to spit in his direction.
Police initially investigated the family, then, after speaking with the ranger, returned later to make the arrest. The teen was charged with Common Assault and Stalking or Intimidation with Intent to Cause Fear of Physical or Mental Harm. He is due to appear at a children’s court on Tuesday 16 June 2020
