20-year-old pleads guilty to attack on Indian-origin doctor

Natasha Chaku

Melbourne, Aug 17 (PTI) A 20-year old Australian accused
of involvement in an attack on a leading Indian-origin doctor
here last year pleaded guilty Monday, becoming the second
person to admit his crime in the incident that sent the victim
into coma.

Mukesh Haikerwal, former president of the Australian
Medical Association (AMA) was attacked by a gang in September
last year when he was walking in a park in Melbourne, leaving
him with a fractured skull.

Alfer Azzopardi, 20, pleaded guilty to a total of 41
charges involving a series of armed robberies, attempted armed
robberies and assaults around Melbourne.

While he pleaded guilty to charges of intentionally
causing serious injury and armed robbery on Haikerwal, he will
contest the exact circumstances of his role in those offences,
the Age newspaper said.

Forty-two charges against him will be withdrawn, the
paper said.

Haikerwal was kicked and punched while he lay on the
ground and then struck on the head with a baseball bat.

The doctor, who suffered two blood clots in his brain
and a fractured skull, underwent emergency surgery and was in
a state of coma for sometime.

He remained in hospital and had rehabilitation at
Epworth Hospital for about eight weeks.

Magistrate Amanda Chambers remanded Azzopardi, who did
not apply for bail, in custody to appear in the County Court
in November.

Two others have been charged in the case. 20-year old
Michael Baltatzis had earlier this month admitted he was part
of the gang that attacked Haikerwal. He pleased guilty to 44
charges and will appear in court with Azzopardi. PTI NC
DDC
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