A 17-year-old boy who allegedly bashed and robbed a doctor and his son as they left the Australian Open has been granted bail.
He is one of three boys charged with allegedly assaulting American surgeon Edmund Pribitkin and his teenage son Edik in Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Gardens, about 11.30pm on January 17.
The teenager – who cannot be named – was released from custody on Monday despite police fearing he may reoffend, The Age reported.
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A 17-year-old was released from custody on Monday after he allegedly bashed and robbed a doctor (pictured) and his son as they left the Australian Open in Melbourne
He is one of three boys charged with allegedly assaulting American surgeon Edmund Pribitkin (left) and his teenage son Edik (right) in Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Gardens, about 11.30pm on January 17
The teenager was released from custody on Monday despite police fearing he may reoffend. Pictured: The teenager’s alleged victim Dr Pribitkin
Both of his alleged victims spent days in hospital where Dr Pribitkin – whose injuries were so bad he was placed in an induced coma – had his face pieced back together with titanium plates.
The court heard that the teenager also allegedly assaulted three German tourists on the same night with two boys, both 17, and two girls, both 16, who have also been charged over the attack.
Court heard Dr Pribitkin was punched and kicked to the ground, while he and his son were robbed of their watches and mobiles.
The magistrate ruled that the case against the teenager was strong and includes evidence of blood on his clothing.
She said the accused’s explanation of how the blood ended up on his clothing was ‘implausible’, before describing the alleged crimes as ‘exceptionally violent and shocking’.
The prosecutor told the court that police fear the teenager would reoffend if granted bail.
Both of his alleged victims spent days in hospital where Dr Pribitkin (left) – whose injuries were so bad he was placed in an induced coma – had his face pieced back together with titanium plates
The court heard the teenager also allegedly assaulted three German tourists on the same night with two boys, both 17, and two girls, both 16, who have also been charged over the attack. Pictured: Dr Pribitkin’s injuries
But he was released from custody after the magistrate deemed that the risk could be negated by his strong family support.
The boy plans to resume studying, work at a supermarket and stick to a nightly curfew while on bail, court heard.
The magistrate said he was targeted in three unprovoked attacks while in youth detention, but didn’t retaliate.
Prosecutors are expected to apply for the case against the three boys to be heard in an adult court where they could be charged with heavier penalties, the publication reported.
The group’s alleged victims were on a trip of a lifetime to Melbourne’s Australian Open when they were brutally beaten.
Court heard Dr Pribitkin was punched and kicked to the ground, while he and his son were robbed of their watches and mobiles
Edik (right), 17, claimed the group had initially asked for cigarettes before demanding the family’s belongings and bashing his father
‘My face was broken into pieces and separated from my skull,’ Dr Pribitkin, 52, told Nine News.
Edik, 17, claimed the group had initially asked for cigarettes before demanding the family’s belongings and bashing his father.
After the initial blows to the face, Dr Pribitkin was allegedly hit to the ground, where he said he continued to be assaulted until people intervened to save him.
The father and son were taken to the Alfred Hospital, where Edik spent three nights and his father spent four.
As Dr Pribitkin spoke with Nine News in January, dark bruising and swelling on the physician’s face was evident.
Photographs taken while he was in hospital show tape on his upper nose and the sides of his eyes.
On the bridge of his nose is a splint, supported above and below his nostrils.
As he recovered from the attack. the esteemed surgeon, who attended medical school and lived with Dr Oz, shared a poignant and positive post to his Facebook.
In the post, he thanked the police and first responders who ‘literally saved’ his life and that of his son.
He also thanked Tennis Australia and the International Tennis Federation, who organise of the Australian Open, for putting on ‘the world’s safest and friendliest slam’.
‘We will return to this amazing event,’ he said.