Teen hailed a hero for stopping alleged assault on woman
A 14-year-old boy has been commended by police after stepping in to stop an alleged domestic violence related assault in Sydney’s north west. The boy confronted a man who was allegedly assaulting a woman, with his actions later leading to an arrest.
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A teenage boy said he was doing what any other person would do when he stepped in to stop a man allegedly punching a woman in the street.
But police have applauded the 14-year-old’s bravery and have recommended he receive official recognition for his courage.
The boy – known only as Hunter – was travelling on a bus on the way home from school on Friday afternoon when he spotted a man hitting a woman on Garfield Rd West in Riverstone.
Hunter jumped off the bus at the next stop and ran back to intervene in the unfolding situation, which police say is domestic violence related, just after 3pm.
“When I looked out the bus window and I saw this guy hitting a woman, I knew that’s not right,” he said on Saturday.
“No one should think that’s right.
“Honestly I could also see myself in that and the fact no one else was doing anything at the time. I did what any other person should do and step in.”
Hunter said when he approached the man, he allegedly had the woman pinned up against a fence.
“I said ‘are you right mate?’,” Hunter said.
“Then I said ‘I saw you hitting this woman’. He told me to f-off and that it wasn’t my business.”
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Standing up to the man, who towered over him in size, Hunter told him he wasn’t going anywhere unless he left the victim alone.
The man allegedly grabbed the teenage boy around the throat.
Fortunately, bystanders then intervened and helped Hunter while the man and the alleged victim left the scene.
“All that was going through my mind is I want this girl to be safe,” Hunter said.
Paul Mapapalngi, 32, was later arrested and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault, with the alleged victim his 27-year-old partner.
He was refused bail to appear in Blacktown Local Court on Wednesday.
Quakers Hill Police Acting Inspector Jason Shaw said Hunter would be put forward for a commendation for his actions.
“It was courageous,” he said.
“I think for a 14-year-old boy to intervene, it would have been very confronting, let alone for an adult to get involved.”