Oz man pleads guilty to bashing India-born doctor

Melbourne, Aug 17: A Australian man pleaded guilty to attacking India-born doctor Mukesh Haikerwal in Melbourne, a media report said.

Alfer Azzopardi, 20-year-old, on Monday, Aug 16 pleaded guilty to a total of 41 charges involving a series of armed robberies, attempted armed robberies and assaults around Melbourne, The Age reported.

Haikerwal was attacked in Williamstown on Sep 27, 2008 by a gang involved in a series of armed robberies in metropolitan Melbourne between Aug and Sep 2008.

The report said that Haikerwal was kicked and punched while he lay on the ground and then struck on the head with a baseball bat.

"Haikerwal, who suffered two blood clots in his brain and a fractured skull, underwent emergency surgery and was in a coma," report added.

A prosecutor on Monday, Aug 16 said to Melbourne Magistrate Court that 42 charges would be withdrawn against Azzopardi.

Earlier, Michael Baltattzis, co-defendant had pleading guilty to 44 charges including 21 of armed robbery and 'a charge of intentionally causing serious injury to Dr Haikerwal'.

OneIndia News