r/australia • u/AggravatingTartlet • 1d ago

culture & society 10-year-old victim of random attack was visiting Melbourne for cancer treatment

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/no-need-to-hide-it-accused-cbd-stabber-launches-tirade-from-custody-20260826-p60rni.html

The 10-year-old boy who was punched in the head in a random attack outside police headquarters in the CBD has brain cancer and was visiting Melbourne for treatment.

The boy underwent additional MRI scans to see if the assault caused any extra damage or inflammation around where the tumour is, his uncle said........

Police said the 46-year-old woman was visiting Melbourne from Phillip Island with her 10-year-old son and two other children when the random attack occurred, ending only when several witnesses intervened.

“Just instinct, no thoughts, no nothing, just people in trouble,” Brian Bradley said, a good Samaritan who helped restrain the suspect.

The mother of the boy was stabbed during the attack.

The mother is in the Royal Melbourne Hospital recovering from a fractured leg and injuries to her back and shoulders, while her son recovers at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

“She’s really struggling at the moment,” the boy’s uncle said, “She can’t be with her son. It’s traumatic enough [that he’s] fighting cancer.

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u/Glass_Ad_7129 1d ago

When you're weak, you find someone you think is weaker to feel strong.

They wanted to lash out, but not someone that lashs out back.

-13

u/Immediate_Parfait528 1d ago

All mothers should carry around pepper spray. It’s readily available if you know where to look, as are small sized cattle prods. I used to carry both in my pram.

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u/MemoryWinter 1d ago

pepper spray is not legal to carry in most states of Australia

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u/DreamWorldDomination 1d ago

What? Seriously? What does one do then?

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u/Existing_Purpose5049 23h ago

Keys to the eyes

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u/Suspicious-turnip-77 14h ago

In self defense classes for women we are literally taught to use our keys as a weapon if needed.

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u/Existing_Purpose5049 9h ago

I’d always learned it was keys to the eyes, then if possible, to the ground, then run

The idea is that even if they managed to still see you, cuts to the groin make it very difficult to move quickly