Two new charges laid on Paul Murphy over alleged anti-Semitic Middle Park attack
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A man allegedly at the centre of an anti-Semitic attack on a Middle Park family's home has been slapped with two fresh charges.
Paul Murphy, 68, fronted the Melbourne Magistrates' Court for the first time on Tuesday, facing five charges including one count of intentionally damage property, one count of unlawful assault and one count of mark offensive graffiti visible from a public space.
Police have alleged Mr Murphy spray painted a blue Star of David on the fence of a prominent Jewish family's mansion on Beaconsfield Parade on January 31.
When a passer-by tried to intervene, he allegedly spat and threw a packet of bacon at the person.
Under the Nazi regime, Jewish people were forced to wear the Star of David – a symbol of Jewish identity – to identify themselves, while the star was also painted on Jewish shop fronts.
In court on Tuesday, two charges were added to the allegations against Mr Murphy — one count of making a threat to destroy property and one count of behaving in an offensive manner within the view of another person — occurring on the same date as the alleged anti-Semitic attack but at a different location.
After the alleged attack the graffiti was quickly removed with the assistance of the Port Phillip Council.
Mayor Louise Crawford said she was 'appalled' by the anti-Semitic vandalism.
Ms Crawford said the council had dispatched an emergency response team to remove the graffiti.
'An attack on any group is an attack on our City's longstanding value of inclusion for all,' she said.
Mr Murphy will return to the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on July 27.
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