Stipe Lozina: Pregnant Rana Elasmar bashed in Parramatta
It was the bashing that shocked Sydney. Stipe Lozina repeatedly punched a heavily pregnant woman and stomped on her head in an unprovoked Islamophobic attack. Today after dismissing legal help, he entered his plea.
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A man who randomly bashed a heavily pregnant woman in an unprovoked Islamophobic attack as she enjoyed a meal with friends at a Parramatta cafe has pleaded guilty to assault and had one of his charges dropped.
Stipe Lozina, 43, of Casula, appeared at Parramatta Local Court today via video link from Parklea jail and pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm on expectant mother Rana Elasmar.
A charge of affray was dropped in court today.
Police say Lozina attacked the woman, who was 38 weeks’ pregnant at the time, as she sat at the Bay Vista Cafe on Church St at about 10.30pm on November 20 last year.
The shocking attack was captured on the cafe’s CCTV cameras, which showed Lozina lean over the table and punch the primary school teacher several times in the head.
When she fell to the ground, Stipe stomped on her head, before he was quickly restrained by other diners.
Ms Elasmar was taken to hospital for observation and gave birth to a healthy baby boy three weeks later.
Lozina refused to seek the advice of a lawyer during his court appearance today, telling Magistrate Kevin Hockey that he wished to plead guilty to get a discount on his sentence.
He told the magistrate he had been faring well in custody.
The Director of Public Prosecutions raised concerns about Lozina’s possible mental health issues and his fitness to stand trial if he did not enter a guilty plea.
While adjourning the matter for sentence in the district court, a legal aid solicitor intervened in the proceedings, citing concerns over Lozina’s mental health.
“I have concerns about his comments in relation to his treatment in custody about him not being restrained and his medication,” the solicitor told the court.
“I am not satisfied he is fit to enter a plea.”
However, Mr Hockey dismissed the concerns and ordered for a mental health report to be prepared ahead of Lozina’s sentencing.
“He is very lucid. He’s entitled to be unrepresented if he chooses to do so,” Mr Hockey said.
“I don’t have any material before me today to suggest any mental health concerns.”
Court documents showed Lozina had been released from jail on parole in March last year for an unrelated matter.
Lozina is due to be sentenced at Parramatta District Court on July 3.