Judge says Oz teens accused of attacking Indian men not to remain in custody

MELBOURNE - Two teenage thugs, who served less than a year in youth detention for a terrifying racist attack on a group of Indian men, will not have to serve any more time in custody.

The Herald Sun quoted County Court judge Christine Thornton as saying today that because the brothers, aged 17 and 18, were “children” she should indicate that they will not be locked up again.

Judge Thornton, who described the assault as “extraordinarily grave” will re-sentence the brothers later today after hearing a DPP appeal against their sentences.

During the unprovoked attack in an Indian convenience store in Sunshine, eight men were injured and one of them spent 15 days in a coma and was left with permanent brain injuries.

Chief Crown prosecutor Gavin Silbert SC told the court the older youth smashed student Sukhraj Singh, 27, with a piece of wood, leaving him unconscious and bleeding with multiple skull and face fractures.

Singh had been told his injuries were permanent and there was a chance he would suffer from epilepsy.

The younger brother started the altercation by walking into the store and asked the Indian males if they were “Singh or Desi” which the prosecution alleged was a racist remark.

Silbert said when the Indian men said they were “Singh boys” he punched one of them without warning.

A group of four co-offenders, including his brother, entered the store and caused mayhem, assaulting their cowering victims and stealing a till containing several hundred dollars.

The assaults were captured on CCTV and when the judge viewed it, she said it was a very serious attack.

The brothers were sentenced in the Childrens’ Court to 12 months in a youth detention but were released early on parole.

The DPP asked the County Court to re-sentence the older brother to two years and a half years and the younger brother to two years. (ANI)