Brothers charged over alleged bashing of top transit cop at Heyington railway station
The brothers who allegedly bashed an assistant commissioner of Victoria’s transit police at a railway station in Melbourne’s east have been charged by police, following a statewide manhunt.
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Police have charged two brothers over the alleged bashing of a top transport cop near a railway station in Toorak over the weekend.
Jay Stephens, 20, and Isaiah Stephens, 18, from Malvern East, were remanded in custody on Monday night and will front the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, facing charges of intentionally causing serious injury, recklessly causing serious injury, intentionally causing injury, and recklessly causing injury.
The arrests came after a statewide manhunt sparked by a vicious assault on Transit and Public Safety Command Assistant Commissioner Chris O’Neill near Heyington station on Saturday afternoon.
Mr O’Neill, 60, was allegedly attacked by the pair in St Kevin’s College, near the station’s entrance, after they had been ejected from a train.
He was treated for head injuries and broken ribs but was released from hospital.
Police issued a public appeal to find the attackers using CCTV footage.
The brothers were arrested in Malvern East on Monday afternoon.
Assistant Commissioner Bob Hill said officers had identified the men and spoken with members of their family before bringing them in for questioning.
He said authorised officers ejected two men from a Glen Waverley service after they were “urinating and vomiting in the carriage”.
They tormented a trainload of Melbourne passengers with uncouth behaviour and appeared to have been affected by either drugs or alcohol. Their conduct was so bad other passengers on board phoned for help before the pair was kicked off.
But Mr Hill said it was still unclear what sparked an alleged attack on Mr O’Neill not long after.
“That encounter is still a little bit vague to us,” he said. “He was off duty at that time … he did not indicate he was a member of Victoria Police.
“He was there attending a private function. I have been advised that he will make a full recovery.”
Police say the two had been living in Melbourne but also had links to Western Australia and the Latrobe Valley.
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Mr Hill said Protective Services Officers had arrived at Heyington station moments after the attack.
“They actually provided assistance to Assistant Commissioner Chris O’Neill,” he said.
“After he was assaulted, he returned to and was on the platform when the PSOs then granted him assistance.
“As a consequence of the capability and capacity building of this part of our workforce, the broader community — the travelling community — feel safer than they ever have.”
Anyone with information or who witnessed the incident can phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au