Pregnant Australian woman punched, kicked in Islamophobic attack

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Bangla Tribune Desk
Published : 18:31, Nov 22, 2019 | Updated : 19:00, Nov 22, 2019

Horrifying footage has emerged showing a heavily pregnant woman being repeatedly punched and then stomped on at a cafe in Sydney, Australia, according to international media.
The 31-year-old woman, who is 38 weeks pregnant, was with friends at Bay Vista cafe on Church Street, Parramatta, on Wednesday (Nov 20) when she was set upon by a man, reports the Daily Mail.
According to the daily, police allege that man is Stipe Lozina, 43, who has been refused bail after being charged with affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Shocking CCTV footage beamed around Australia on Thursday (Nov 21) allegedly showed Lozina lean over the table of women before unleashing a flurry of punches.



Footage shows Lozina was seen calmly walking up the steps to the cafe, before looking to the left and approaching the women.
After a brief verbal exchange, he points a finger towards the pregnant woman before allegedly attacking.
He allegedly punched the victim several times in the head and upper body, causing her to fall to the ground as her friends tried to hold him back.
He then allegedly stomped on the head of the woman as she cowered next to the table.
Police allege CCTV footage shows one of the woman's friends using a chair to hit the man, causing him to stumble, before other patrons restrained him and walked him out of the cafe, according to the Daily Mail.
The woman did not know her alleged attacker, but he was known to police.
The woman spoke to The Daily Telegraph through a Muslim community leader, saying she was 'very fragile' and still in shock.
'He just screamed at me saying "Muslims raped my mum",' she said.
The alleged victim's husband told the paper his wife 'hardly ever goes out'.
'But when her friends invited her for a coffee, I told her to go and that I would look after the kids,' he said.
Lozina appeared without legal representation at Parramatta Local Court on Thursday as he applied unsuccessfully for bail. He will remain behind bars until at least next month.
Local Magistrate Tim Keady told Lozina in court: 'After making a comment about Muslims, you approached her and punched her to the head 14 times. For bail purposes I will treat that as a very strong case against you.'
The man was known to police and had an 'extensive criminal record', the magistrate was quoted by the daily as saying.
The accused asked for the case to be adjourned to a date when he had another matter due to be heard in court.
Lozina was refused bail to next appear on Dec 5, according to the Daily Mail.

/hb/
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