DDD
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« on: March 11, 2010, 12:14:26 pm » |
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A 35-year-old Manitoba man who uses a wheelchair is recovering from surgery in Sydney, Australia, after he was severely beaten late Tuesday night.
Heath Proden suffered a fractured skull and deep cuts during the beating, which happened at a train station northeast of the city at about 11 p.m. local time. He underwent surgery to relieve pressure on his brain.
Police have charged two boys, aged 15 and 16, with intent to cause bodily harm and armed robbery.
Both have been denied bail and are expected to remain in custody pending future court dates.
Suspects claim self-defence
Friends of the accused teenagers are trying to turn the tables, saying they were provoked by Proden and lashed out in self-defence.
"My boys called me up and said that. I know it's true for a fact that they don't hit anyone for nothing," the father of one of the accused said, speaking to BBC reporter Phil Mercer.
"They said that the guy came up to them and was hassling them."
If there was a verbal provocation, that's still no excuse for what happened, said Proden, who has not spoken about the incident with her son and has no idea what prompted it.
"They have legs — walk away," she said.
To come back that many times to excessively beat on him. Like, you made your point the first time when you knocked him out of the chair."
Australian police Supt. Wayne Cox called the assault an act of cowardice.
"The attack is quite savage and certainly unprovoked from what we can see," he said.
Heath Proden, who is also from Winnipeg Beach, tried to leave the station via an elevator but was punched in the face by one of the boys and knocked from his chair, police said.
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