Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court: Sarah Franklin pleads guilty to assault after victim was doused with hot coffee and later died
A woman who was violently assaulted in a 7-Eleven and later died from her injuries spouted racist remarks before the attack, a court has heard.
South East
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A woman who died after a violent assault at a Caulfield service station was heard making anti-Semitic and other racist comments towards the woman who attacked her, a court has heard.
Caulfield South woman Sarah Franklin, 53, pleaded guilty to assault in Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on October 31, after a physical altercation inside a 7-Eleven store left a woman dead.
The assault occurred at the Hawthorn Rd 7-Eleven on February 8 last year, where Franklin attacked another patron of the servo, before leaving the scene.
The incident was caught both in CCTV and bystander footage and Franklin was later charged with common law assault by homicide detectives.
In court on Tuesday, the footage showed Franklin fighting with the victim for a two-minute period, which included a coffee being thrown and the physical altercation.
The court heard the victim had made anti-Semitic comments, including “die Jews”, towards Franklin in the moments prior to the fight.
The footage showed Franklin douse the victim with hot coffee, hitting her legs and back before the victim tried to run away.
Franklin followed the victim before the violent physical altercation, where the victim bit Franklin on the arm and both women fell to the floor.
The court heard Franklin positioned herself behind the victim, holding her in a headlock while also restraining the victim with her legs.
In footage from a bystander, the victim could be heard saying, “Leave me alone, help me, help, I can’t breathe.”
The victim was left lying face down on the store floor and did not receive first aid until an ambulance arrived.
Franklin left the store and was later arrested.
The court heard the victim had stopped breathing before police and paramedics arrived and was revived before being taken to The Alfred hospital.
The woman suffered a major stroke and died later that week.
The court heard Franklin had changed her name 20 years prior to avoid anti-Semitic comments and racism associated with her original Polish-Jewish name.
In a letter submitted to the court, Franklin said she was “deeply regretful” for her offending.
Magistrate Stephen Lee said despite Franklin’s apparent remorse, the offending was still “grave”.
He requested a psychological report from Franklin’s counsel to assist him in sentencing.
Franklin will return to court on December 13 for sentence.
