Patrick Burgess has a message for those who would stand by while minority groups are persecuted. Its the indifference of good people that is bringing us down, he said. The Melbourne skater was with a group of friends in Newcastle when, police say, two women wearing traditional Muslim hijabs were approached while driving their car. Their alleged assailant is accused of approaching the mother and daughter, and saying, We are Westerners and youre not meant to be here, before punching the drivers side wing mirror. Police say the daughter then drove five metres and got out to fix the mirror. But as she tried to get back in the car, police allege the man forced the left side of his body into the car, took hold of the steering wheel and put his foot on the accelerator for about 10 seconds. The car was in park and didnt move. The police statement said Mr Burgess, James Turvey, and four other men saw what had happened and became concerned for the womens safety. As they approached the car they heard the man yell out you Musi c---s. Police allege the man turned on the six friends and threatened to kill them. The man allegedly stole two of their mobile phones and ran off but was struck by a skateboard thrown by one of the friends. He later allegedly punched Mr Burgess. He was saying the worst things [to the women], racist profanities [then] he started swinging at each of us while we were trying to defuse situation as best we could, Mr Burgess told the Newcastle Herald. Mr Burgess said he felt so disgusted the women had been subjected to the abuse. People need to know that this is not OK, he said. The way this situation has gotten is so not acceptable, and people need to start taking action and actively condemning this sort of activity. The case comes at a time of increasing community unrest and concern that Australias mission against Islamic State in Iraq is fuelling attacks on Muslims in Australia. Mr Turvey said he felt frustrated that other people had driven past while the attack was taking place. If you look at YouTube videos of verbal or physical assaults on public transport, theres grown men ... guys Im sure on the weekend are watching footy talking about how tough they are – but when people are being abused or bullied on the streets these people are so quick to turn a blind eye, he said. Scott William Papworth, 27, has denied verbally attacking the women and threatening to kill those who came to their aid, claiming he was only one of numerous people in the vicinity and that he had been acting in self-defence against the skating group. Mr Papworth, of Bingleburra outside Dungog, pleaded not guilty to five charges in Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday, including that he intimidated and stalked the women, assaulted one of the men who came to their aid and stole two mobile phones. Mr Papworth was refused bail after magistrate Ian Cheetham described the verbal assault as made on a racial basis upon persons who were innocently going about their business. Prosecutor Sergeant Karl Moir urged the magistrate to consider the charges in the present climate. We are not just looking at a vacuum here, he told the court. The police statement said Mr Papworth was arrested a short distance away and claimed to police that three young men had been set upon by the skaters and that he was acting in self-defence. The accused stated he was unaware of any Muslim lady or any incident involving a vehicle, the statement said. Solicitor Bryony Barber said her client denied being the racist attacker, telling the court he was in town to go to the beach and visit his sister and was one of numerous people in the vicinity. Mr Cheetham said Mr Papworth represented an unacceptable risk and refused him bail.
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 04:30:40 +0000
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