Andrew, Hailey Blewett: Cranbourne father, daughter in court over alleged racist attack in carpark
A Cranbourne father and daughter allegedly bashed two Indian men in a race-fuelled rage at a shopping centre carpark.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A father and daughter have fronted court over an alleged hate crime in Cranbourne.
Andrew Blewett, 42, and Hailey Blewett, 19, fronted the Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday over the alleged attack on two Indian men outside the Hunt Club Village shopping centre on October 11.
The court heard the victims allegedly arrived at the carpark to swap groceries about 4.20pm, with one of their cars partially blocking the aisle.
The Blewett’s pulled up in a ute beside them and exited the car before allegedly hurling racial abuse.
Mr Blewett allegedly pushed one man to the ground before his daughter allegedly approached the other.
She allegedly knocked his turban off his head before pulling his hair and punching him in the face.
Horrified onlookers watched as Mr Blewett allegedly laid more punches into the first man.
“You can’t f****** do this, this is Australia. You should go back to your f****** country,” the father allegedly yelled.
“What f****** country are you from? You can’t do this here,” Ms Blewett allegedly screeched.
The court was told one witness allegedly rushed over to break up the fight, which allegedly left one victim with grazes and the other with a cut eye and swollen temple.
“(The Blewett’s) could have just driven past. It was easy to drive around,” a witness told police.
The defence said Mr Blewett, a truck driver, volunteers with the Country Fire Authority and suffers from undiagnosed mental health issues as a result of a medical condition.
His daughter is completing an apprenticeship and battles depression and anxiety.
The court heard Mr Blewett had separated from his daughter’s mother, with the teen living between both homes.
“When your dad behaves in a certain way it effectively gives permission for a daughter to join in,” Magistrate Therese McCarthy said.
“Racism is not acceptable in any shape or form in the community, let alone the level of violence toward someone you don’t know.
“There are other ways the situation can be resolved …(the victims) don’t deserve this type of racial and physical abuse.”
The Blewett’s, who each face charges including recklessly cause injury, will return to court on April 15.