Violent Attack on Off Duty Police Officers in Sydney
Two off-duty police officers were attacked in Sydney, resulting in serious injuries. Two suspects have been arrested, while a third remains at large. The incident was caught on CCTV.
The violent attack of two off-duty police officers in Sydney's inner west was captured on horrific CCTV from a nearby fast-food outlet.
Koby Weaver, 20, and Danai Deneiderhavsei, 18, were arrested on Thursday after allegedly attacking the two off-duty police officers on Wednesday night.
Police said the two victims, both men aged 25, were walking along Enmore Rd in Newtown when they approached three men who were arguing.
The two off-duty officers were allegedly assaulted, with one of them knocked to the ground and repeatedly punched and kicked to the head.
He was knocked unconscious on the roadway, with an off-duty nurse performing CPR before paramedics arrived and transported him to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, where he remains in a serious but stable condition.
The second 25-year-old man suffered facial injuries and was also taken to the same hospital but has since been released.
The three accused men left the scene, according to police.
On Thursday, police arrested Mr Weaver and Mr Deneiderhavsei at a home in Mascot.
Mr Weaver was charged with cause grievous bodily harm to person with intent and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company of others.
Mr Deneiderhavsei was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company of others (two counts) and larceny.
Mr Weaver appeared in Downing Centre Local Court on Friday via AVL, wearing a ripped white T-shirt.
His bail was refused and will be remanded in custody until his next court appearance in March.
CCTV footage from the night of the alleged attack that appeared to show four men arguing in the middle of the road was shown in court.
The prosecutor alleged Mr Weaver was shown in the footage stomping on the off-duty police officer's head.
The prosecution also told the court the injuries allegedly inflicted on the off-duty police officer were life threatening and included brain swelling and eye fractures.
The magistrate agreed there was a "significant risk of reoffending" and said the "significant force of that stomp" was too serious to ignore.
However, Mr Weaver's Legal Aid solicitor argued his client was trying to break up the fight in the CCTV footage.
"My client has told me he asked one of the men 'can you grab your mate and walk away, we don't need this tonight'," he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Deneiderhavsei was not required to appear in court when his matter was mentioned briefly in Downing Centre Local Court on Friday.
His bail was refused, and he will be remanded in custody until he appears in court again in March.
Police are still searching for the third man. Inquiries to locate the third man are ongoing.
Superintendent Despa Fitzgerald urged anyone with mobile phone, CCTV or dashcam footage to come forward.
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