Alajeck Anai fronts court over Altona Pier pack attack on girl with autism

Video of a shocking attack on an autistic 14-year-old girl has been played to a court, as an 18-year-old woman pleads guilty to the horrific assault.

A teenager has admitted her role in a vicious attack on a 14-year-old girl with autism in front of shocked onlookers in broad daylight at Altona Pier.

Alajeck Anai, 18, was one of four teen girls accused of repeatedly punching a 14-year-old girl to the head on February 28 before a bystander stepped in and urged them to stop.

Anai pleaded guilty to a charge of affray when she appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday while the other alleged attackers are before a children’s court.

A victim impact statement and photos showing the victim’s injuries were handed over to Magistrate Justin Foster and just before the summary of the incident was read out, the victim’s father Byron Hyatt who was sitting in the public gallery, alerted Mr Foster that a video of the attack was also available.

Other members of the victim’s family were also present when the video was played in court.

Alajeck Anai is seen in the footage landing a barrage of punches on the victim. Picture: Supplied

A member of the public commented “pack of wild dogs” at the conclusion of the video, prompting Mr Foster to remind people to keep their emotions under control.

Anai will be sentenced at 2.15pm.

The assault took place in front of shocked onlookers in the middle of the day, with footage depicting the girl cowering on the pier as she was repeatedly punched, kicked, had her hair pulled and an energy drink thrown on her.

The victim was taken to hospital with swelling and bruising to her face and eye and had suffered “significant emotional trauma”.

In April, a children’s court heard the girl accused of throwing the first punch told police the fight was sparked months earlier when she had “issues” with her former schoolmate at a birthday party, which led to a “verbal argument” with the alleged victim’s mother.

Following this argument, she accused the alleged victim’s family members of making “threats” in an Instagram group chat, including that they were “going to get Islanders on us”.

Soon after, at Altona Pier about 4.30pm on February 28, the girl and her friends were walking past her old schoolmate when one of the accused group asked, “What were you going to do when you see us?”

“That was my sister, that wasn’t even me on the account,” she replied, before she was punched to the head more than 50 times.