Homeless man charged over vicious muso bashing in Preston car park

Melbourne’s arts community has rallied around an American musician beaten unconscious and hospitalised with a brain bleed following a shocking attack in Preston last week.

Melbourne’s arts community has rallied around an American musician beaten unconscious and hospitalised with a brain bleed following a shocking attack in Preston last week.

An online fundraising campaign to help the victim who was attacked after getting off the 86 tram at Bell St last Wednesday surged past its $5000 goal within 20 hours.

MORE LAW AND ORDER

EX-ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER DENIES SEX WITH LAWYER X

WHEN WILL PET FOOD RETURN TO SUPERMARKET SHELVES?

Strangers have opened their pockets and hearts to the man who remains recovering at the Austin hospital.

“Violence is not acceptable and to assault an innocent musician far from home, minding his own business,” donor Mark Lobban said.

“So wrong on so many levels.”

Another man apologised on behalf of Melbourne.

“I am so sorry this has happened to you in our city,” Michael Burrows said.

A homeless man was arrested and charged yesterday over the horrific assault.

The 27-year-old man of no fixed address was arrested in Melbourne’s CBD on Tuesday morning and is being interviewed by police.

He has been charged with intentionally causing serious injury in circumstances of gross violence, committing offences while on bail and other assault-related charges.

The victim of an alleged assault lies injured in a Preston car park, captured by a CCTV camera. Picture: Victoria Police

It is believed the arrested man was unknown to the victim who was followed after getting off the 86 tram at the corner of Bell St and Plenty Rd in Preston around 11.20pm last Thursday.

The man was allegedly chased around an abandoned carpark before being hit to the ground, striking his head.

Once rendering the innocent man unconscious, the man was allegedly stood over and taunted.

He suffered a brain bleed and his jaw was broken in the vicious midweek assault.

Victoria Police Detective Senior Constable Matthew Coleiro said there was no apparent connection between the two men.

“It’s a terrifying assault that’s occurred,” he said. “He’s followed this victim and we don’t know why. It’s incredibly disturbing footage to watch.”

The man lay unconscious in the car park for about 20 minutes before coming to and walking himself to the main road where passers-by saw the bloodied man and called an ambulance.

The assault took place in this car park.

Paramedics treated him for head and rushed him to the Austin hospital where he underwent brain surgery immediately to deal with a bleed.

He then had another surgery to fix his broken jaw.

The musician had just finished performing at a venue in a nearby suburb before the attack, which he cannot remember due to the severity of the assault.

“He’s got serious memory loss,” Detective Senior Constable Coleiro said. “He’s got no other support network or dependants here.”

The victim was supposed to fly home to the US on Saturday but had to postpone his travel while he recovers.

The man was allegedly on bail at the time of the horrific assault and is expected to front Melbourne Magistrates’ Court this evening.

Anyone with information about the assault or who recognises the man is urged to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

[e-mail]