Shayne Casey Comensoli, appearing before the Country Court, admitted that he bashed the victim, Lucky Singh, in Sunshine area in Melbourne's west in October last year, according to Herald Sun.
A 20-year-old Australian, facing jail for brutally attacking an Indian youth leaving him with a fractured nose and cheekbone, today pleaded guilty to charges of intentionally causing serious injury and robbery, but denied that the assault was racially motivated.
Shayne Casey Comensoli, appearing before the Country Court, admitted that he bashed the victim, Lucky Singh, in Sunshine area in Melbourne's west in October last year, according to Herald Sun.
Comensoli told the court that one of the reasons he punched and kicked 23-year-old Singh was because the victim's blood landed on him as he was being bashed by co-accused Lennon Metaxas.
He disputed that he told a psychologist, whose report was tendered to Judge Meryl Sexton, that he continued to hit Singh until he fell to the ground unconscious. He said the victim became unconscious as a result of Metaxas' attack.
Defence lawyer Grace Morgan argued that Comensoli should not be sent to an adult jail because it would hinder his rehabilitation. She said he should be detained in a youth justice centre, where 20-year-old Metaxas has been put.
Comensoli also pleaded guilty to charges of intentionally causing serious injury and robbery, but denied that the assault was racially motivated.
Opening the case, prosecutor Amelia Macknay said Comensoli and Metaxas were in a car driven around Sunshine by a third accused, Aleksander Trifunovic, and were looking for an Indian to rob. They spotted the victim in a payphone and Comensoli and Metaxas got out of the car and approached him.
Metaxas felled Singh with one blow and Comensoli grabbed him and held him to the ground. Comensoli said "now it's my turn, now it's my turn" and took up the attack.
"During this time Singh screamed in pain and fear," Macknay said. "Comensoli repeatedly said 'shut up you Indian.... shut up'."
The prosecutor said Singh was hit 15-20 times to the head and face and he covered his head with his arms and curled up on the ground. The pair then picked up their victim, dumped him on a park bench and continued to punch him to the head, and Metaxas kneed him a number of times.
The attackers searched Singh's clothing and took his wallet containing $80 in cash and some personal items.
The victim was left unconscious on the footpath with his blood spilling to the ground and the two attackers left the scene with his blood on their clothes.
Comensoli and Metaxas were picked up by Trifunovic and they divided the cash and drove off. Police intercepted them in Sunshine West.
Singh had fractures to his cheekbone and nose and severe swelling and bruising and required reconstructive surgery.
Morgan said her client Comensoli had a history of violence and anger management problems but he came from a background where he and his mother were regularly bashed by their father. She said Comensoli was a father-of-one to a former girlfriend and his current girlfriend is pregnant.
The case was adjourned for further plea to a date to be fixed.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}