‘They thought I was dead’: Grandfather becomes target of brutal scooter assault
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Content warning: This article mentions physical violence against the elderly, which some might find upsetting. Reader’s discretion is advised.
Mark Smedley, a 63-year-old grandfather from Adelaide, was going about his day like any other.
As he sat at an intersection in his car, little did he know his life was about to change in an instant.
According to police, a group of young people approached Mark's car in Roy Tce and Gulfview Rd in Christies Beach on the afternoon of 23 January.
Without provocation, one member of the group threw a scooter at Mark's vehicle, shattering the back window.
When Mark got out to assess the damage, the alleged 24-year-old attacker assaulted him.
'He (the alleged offender) was just screaming like a madman, and the scooter went straight through the back window of the car,' Mark recalled.
Reports say the alleged attack left Mark lying on the road in a pool of blood.
‘A couple of witnesses said by the way they saw that scooter bounce off my head and the way I went down, they thought I was dead,’ Mark said.
‘I was just concerned if I shut my eyes and passed out again, the inside images of this ambulance might be the last thing I see.’
Witnesses rushed to help Mark before paramedics arrived.
Mark suffered a fractured skull, as well as injuries to his hand and knee, requiring surgery. He was also traumatised to leave his home.
‘You don’t expect someone to walk up to your car and smash the window out,’ he said.
Police said the 24-year-old man was accused of hitting Mark. But the alleged attacker then assaulted two responding police officers, injuring one officer seriously.
The man faced multiple offences, including aggravated assault causing harm.
At his first court appearance, prosecutors alleged he had 121 prior convictions and breached his bail conditions 17 times.
Court documents also revealed he had conditions that affected his brain development, like fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
He claimed in court that Mark ran over his foot.
You can watch coverage of this unsettling event below: (Disclaimer: This video contains graphic images)
Credit: 7NEWS Australia / YouTube
Sadly, physical violence against seniors isn’t exactly rare in Australia.
In a previous story, two women aged 63 and 58 were reportedly attacked by a patient in a hospital’s ER department.
The same assailant was alleged to have inflicted bodily harm on their 81-year-old mum. You can read more about the story here.
Have you or someone else experienced the same situation? Let us know in the comments below.
Mark Smedley, a 63-year-old grandfather from Adelaide, was going about his day like any other.
As he sat at an intersection in his car, little did he know his life was about to change in an instant.
According to police, a group of young people approached Mark's car in Roy Tce and Gulfview Rd in Christies Beach on the afternoon of 23 January.
Without provocation, one member of the group threw a scooter at Mark's vehicle, shattering the back window.
When Mark got out to assess the damage, the alleged 24-year-old attacker assaulted him.
63-year-old Mark Smedley was allegedly assaulted by a 24-year-old. Credit: 7NEWS Australia
'He (the alleged offender) was just screaming like a madman, and the scooter went straight through the back window of the car,' Mark recalled.
Reports say the alleged attack left Mark lying on the road in a pool of blood.
‘A couple of witnesses said by the way they saw that scooter bounce off my head and the way I went down, they thought I was dead,’ Mark said.
‘I was just concerned if I shut my eyes and passed out again, the inside images of this ambulance might be the last thing I see.’
Witnesses rushed to help Mark before paramedics arrived.
Mark suffered a fractured skull, as well as injuries to his hand and knee, requiring surgery. He was also traumatised to leave his home.
‘You don’t expect someone to walk up to your car and smash the window out,’ he said.
Police said the 24-year-old man was accused of hitting Mark. But the alleged attacker then assaulted two responding police officers, injuring one officer seriously.
The man faced multiple offences, including aggravated assault causing harm.
At his first court appearance, prosecutors alleged he had 121 prior convictions and breached his bail conditions 17 times.
Court documents also revealed he had conditions that affected his brain development, like fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
He claimed in court that Mark ran over his foot.
You can watch coverage of this unsettling event below: (Disclaimer: This video contains graphic images)
Credit: 7NEWS Australia / YouTube
Sadly, physical violence against seniors isn’t exactly rare in Australia.
In a previous story, two women aged 63 and 58 were reportedly attacked by a patient in a hospital’s ER department.
The same assailant was alleged to have inflicted bodily harm on their 81-year-old mum. You can read more about the story here.
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