Attack on Indian not racially motivated: Australian court

MELBOURNE - The attack on Indian student Lucky Singh, who was punched in his face and robbed off last year, was not racially motivated, an Australian court Friday said and sentenced the attacker to three years in youth detention.

Shayne Comensoli, 20, and his friend Lennon Metaxas randomly picked Lucky Singh, who was making a call from a telephone booth at Sunshine, in Melbourne’s west, Oct 15, 2009, and attacked him.

Sentencing Comensoli, Victorian country Judge Meryl Sexton said the attack was very serious and “almost sickening”, AAP reported.

Judge Sexton said that while Comensoli hated Singh at the time of the attack, she could not be satisfied the assault was motivated by a hatred of Indian people.

“Your behaviour was quite outrageous,” the judge was quoted as saying. “Mr Singh goes by the first name of Lucky. He is indeed lucky that he was not even more seriously injured.”

Metaxas knocked Singh to the ground. Comensoli then caught hold of Singh while Metaxas continued to repeatedly punch him in the face and head, the court heard. Comensoli then joined in, punching, kneeing and kicking Singh, before leaving him bleeding heavily and unconscious on the ground, the court heard.

During the attack, Comensoli repeatedly told Singh: “Shut up, you Indian motherf—r”. Comensoli and Metaxas then stole Singh’s wallet, the court was told.

Comensoli had pleaded guilty to intentionally causing serious injury and robbery. Metaxas was handed the same sentence in an earlier court hearing.