Stipe Lozina: pensioner unapologetic over attack on pregnant Muslim mum
Mother-of-four Rana Elasmar has recounted the terrifying moment a stranger approached her and said “you Muslims raped my mum” before she was attacked.
Police & Courts
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A pensioner who attacked a heavily pregnant Muslim woman at a Parramatta cafe said he lashed out because she wouldn’t handover a dollar and “could afford it”.
A pensioner who attacked a heavily pregnant Muslim woman at a Parramatta cafe said he lashed out because she wouldn’t handover a dollar and “could afford it”.
In the next breath, Stipe Lozina claimed he didn’t like Muslims because members of the Islamic community had “raped his mother”.
The 43-year-old fronted Parramatta District Court on Monday after pleading guilty to the violent and unprovoked assault of an expectant mother in October last year.
His victim, 32-year-old Rana Elasmar, bravely recounted the lasting impact the attack had on her life while strongly denouncing violence against women and Muslims.
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At 38 weeks pregnant, Mrs Elasmar was having dessert with two friends on the night of October 20, 2019 when Lozina, a complete stranger, approached her table.
Lozina, who has a long history of violence and mental health issues, asked for a dollar before punching Mrs Elasmar in the head.
Chilling CCTV of the attack showed Lozina swinging at the mother-of-four before she fell on the ground in the Bay Vista Cafe.
He then stomped on her head and only stopped when a witness intervened and pulled him off.
Appearing via audio visual link, Lozina, who pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, represented himself after repeatedly refusing legal aid assistance.
When the judge asked him how he felt about the assault, Lozina replied: “I feel remorseful. I’m on the pension, I lose a lot, $8000 for not having it”.
Lozina also claimed before the attack, he’d found out his mother had been “violated by members of her community”.
He also referred to Muslims “burning our priests alive in Bosnia” but wouldn’t admit that he hated Muslims.
“I don’t hate them but I don‘t get along with them, I don’t do business with them,” he said.
During his evidence, Lozina was erratic, wouldn’t answer certain questions and at one point, asked crown prosecutor Sara Gul if she was Filipina.
Ms Gul referred to remarks Lozina made to a prison psychologist where he blamed Mrs Elasmar for the attack.
“She should’ve just given me the dollar, she could afford it,” Lozina told the psychologist.
The crown case was that Lozina hated Muslims and targeted Mrs Elasmar because of her hijab and her refusal to give him a dollar, Ms Gul said.
Lozina, who has committed 28 crimes of violence or threats since 1997, conceded he shouldn’t be back in the community but in hospital.
“I’m too violent, I drink, I am a smoker,” he said.
In a moving victim impact statement, Mrs Elasmar recalled how Lozina said to her “you Muslims raped my mum” before striking out.
“I made a conscious effort to turn my abdomen away from his punches because I was heavily pregnant and wanted to protect my unborn baby,” she told the court.
“Your hatred of Islam only drove me further to my religion.
“His lack of remorse for this is the reason why I do not forgive him because I believe no woman should have to excuse a man of such behaviour.
“It’s our right to decide what we want to do with our body. If I choose to cover up and wear a veil, it‘s my choice.”
The court heard that six weeks prior to Mrs Elasmar’s assault, Lozina verbally abused two women wearing hijabs at Liverpool.
Judge Chris Craigie SC adjourned the case to October 1 for sentence.