Heart surgeon Patrick Pritzwald-Stegmann, who died after he was allegedly ‘coward punched’ at a Melbourne hospital, was ‘thrashing’ around and tried to get up after the attack, a court has been told.
Joseph Esmaili, 22, appeared via videolink in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday, accused of punching the surgeon near the entrance of Box Hill Hospital on May 30.
Police claim Dr. Pritzwald-Stegmann was leaving the hospital when he asked Mr Esmaili not to smoke near the front entrance.
Heart surgeon Patrick Pritzwald-Stegmann (pictured), who died after he was allegedly ‘coward punched’ at a Melbourne hospital, was ‘thrashing’ and tried to get up after the attack, a court heard
Joseph Esmaili (pictured), 22, is accused of punching the surgeon near the entrance of Box Hill Hospital on May 30
Mr Esmaili appeared via videolink in Melbourne Magistrates Court (pictured) on Friday
Mr Esmaili allegedly punched the father-of-two from behind, knocking him unconscious.
The doctor was on life support for four weeks before his wife, Christine, made the heart-breaking decision to turn it off.
Physicians who treated Mr Pritzwald-Stegmann will be cross examined about the extent of his injuries and how he appeared after the incident, say defence lawyers, who also plan to question other witnesses.
Treating doctors noted the surgeon was ‘agitated’ and appeared ‘disorientated’, defence barrister John Desmond told the court.
Police claim Dr. Pritzwald-Stegmann (pictured) was leaving the hospital when he asked Mr Esmaili not to smoke near the front entrance
Another witness claimed he was ‘thrashing’ around following the attack, the lawyer added.
The extent and nature of Dr Pritzwald-Stegmann’s injuries, including ‘extensive bruising’ around his left eye, a nose bleed and his attempts to stand will also be examined, the defence said.
Mr Esmaili, 22, faces four charges of intentionally and recklessly causing serious injury over Dr Pritzwald-Stegmann’s death.
Following the incident, treating doctors noted the surgeon was ‘agitated’ and appeared ‘disorientated’, defence barrister John Desmond told the court (pictured is Box Hill Hospital)
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