Grandmother allegedly attacked by stranger issues message for Australia - as the man accused of attack loses it at judge inside court: 'Are you deaf?'
Sean Lloyd McLachlan, 39, was arrested on Wednesday after he allegedly beat the 92-year-old woman in Williamstown, Melbourne, about 12.20pm outside the Coles on Douglas parade.
Police allege he beat the woman about the head before she fell to the ground and lost consciousness.
Members of the public restrained McLachlan until police could arrive.
Detectives later charged McLachlan with intentionally causing injury.
McLachlan appeared on his own in Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Thursday.
Magistrate Bernard FitzGerald asked if McLachlan had talked to a lawyer.
McLachlan muttered a soft 'yes', but the Magistrate FitzGerald did not hear him, and he asked again.
'I just said I've already f***ing spoken (to a lawyer). Are you deaf? Are your ears painted on,' McLachlan said, the Herald Sun reported.
Magistrate FitzGerald asked what McLachlan had hoped to achieve in the courtroom on Thursday.
'F*** off,' McLachlan said.
The 39-year-old did not apply for bail, and the matter was adjourned for a week with the court allowing him time to arrange legal representation.
He will reappear in court on May 8.
Footage, allegedly depicting the incident, captured the moment a man struck the 92-year-old woman and threw her to the ground.
Further vision, too distressing for publication, appeared to show the man throwing her to the ground and dragging her along the footpath.
Emergency services rushed her to hospital at the time.
She suffered a concussion and upper body injuries in the alleged attack and was taken to Western Hospital in Footscray before she was discharged on Thursday morning.
The 92-year-old has been left 'very distressed' by the incident.
'I wish to thank all those who have been so caring of me,' she said in a statement.
'I remember nothing of the actual incident but when I woke up I was surrounded by the police and ambulance and caring onlookers.
'I wish to thank everyone for their concern.
'I'm pleased to go home as I have a loving family and supportive friends.'
McLachlan has no fixed address but was known to police in Footscray, Melbourne and Williamstown.
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