Australian Awarded 18-month Term for Attacking Indian Cabbie

An Australian accused of assaulting an Indian cabbie due to his racist attitude has been awarded a prison term by a court in Melbourne, said media reports.

The 23-year-old Indian victim, a student and a part-time taxi driver, suffered a fractured skull, nose and cheekbone in the attack that took place early in the morning on February 16 two years ago.

Murat Kilinc, 22, who attacked the Indian cabbie, told a psychologist that he and his family hated Indians because of their obvious lack of concern for others, reports said.

Prosecutor Jim Bessel told a court last week that witness first heard screams and cries and then spotted two people running away, said reports.

Psychologist Rachael Freeland opined that attacker’s anger issues, alcohol abuse and hatred towards Indians could have ‘contributed’ to the incident, reports said.

However, she said that Kilinc’s offence may have been subconsciously racially inspired, but not consciously, said reports.

Judge Joe Gullaci said that he was not satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the victim was attacked because he was Indian, reports said.

Gullaci, who intenced Kilinc to serve a minimum of 18 months, said that he was also unable to be satisfied whether the attack was pre-planned, said reports.

The judge said that vulnerable people going about their normal business must be allowed to work without fear of being attacked and left unconscious in deserted back streets, reports said.

(Based on internet reports)