Just a day after a policeman had his head repeatedly bashed onto a St Kilda pavement, four people have fronted court over the vicious attack.
Parent Kayla Potts, 25, a child care worker, was shielded from the press by her mother on Monday after a court was told she and her fiancee, Jack Houldcroft, were part of a group celebrating a birthday that ended in violence.
Houldcroft is accused of starting the violence that’s sent shockwaves through the police force.
Police say Potts punched an officer in the head, who retaliated by hitting her in the face with his torch, splitting her head open.
Phillip O’Donnell is the man police say smashed an officer’s head onto concrete six times. The 38-year-old father will apply for bail tomorrow.
Also charged was Potts’ brother, Trent, for his involvement in the attack.
As the two officers are recovering, police are calling for harsh penalties for those involved.
“Absolutely jail times – with jail times at the top end of the spectrum,” Police Association’s Wayne Gatt said. “This will challenge [the officers] not only physically but psychologically too.”
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews labelled the attack as “disgusting”.
“It’s a disgusting incident that any member of our emergency services could be set upon like that,” he said.
New footage has emerged showing one of the officers being savagely punched.
Witness Aaron McKenna recalled the moment the the officers became outnumbered.
“The cop was dazed so we were just thinking this guy could easily take a gun if people start approaching him so everyone just backed off and was just yelling to leave him alone,” he said.
Police are looking to identify three others involved, including one man police say not only assaulted the officers, but spat on them.
“He’s seen being so brave he’s standing there spitting on our members,” deputy commissioner Shane Patton said.
The attack has left police angry, and on edge.
“It makes them question their own safety when they go out on patrol everyday,” Gatt said.
Along with the three involved, police are looking to speak with seven others.
“These are the people who keep us safe and they deserve to be safe in doing their job,” Patton said.
“No one goes to work and expects to get attacked like this.”
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