A Melbourne DJ remains unconscious and in a critical condition following what police allege was a bashing at the hands of four young men in an up-market Melbourne suburb in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
On Monday, the Melbourne Magistrates Court heard the alleged victim, a 23-year-old Footscray man, was repeatedly punched and kicked in front of his girlfriend as the pair left Jacksons Hotel, Toorak, at about 3am after finishing his set.
Prosecutors told the court the alleged victim said to one of the co-accused, “What did you say, mate?” after he was on the receiving end of a slur when asked by the DJ to get off the bonnet of his car, after which the alleged assault occurred.
Four men, Michael Nous, Mohamed Buram, Ayoub Abdulrahman and Cleveland Momia have been charged with recklessly causing injury in circumstances of gross violence, affray and assault.
After the alleged assault, the alleged victim required emergency surgery at The Alfred Hospital to treat what were described in court as life-threatening injuries.
Prosecutors said as of 7pm Sunday he remained in intensive care and was yet to awake.
They said the alleged victims and the accused had attended the Sounds of Africa event at Jacksons Hotel when, having left the venue, the alleged victim and his girlfriend observed the four men leaning on the bonnet of his white Jeep Compass.
Prosecutors said the girlfriend had a conversation with Mr Momia during the event, whom she recognised.
They were also with two friends when they left Jacksons Hotel, who the court heard were named Angel and Justin.
Prosecutors said the victim asked “politely” for the four men to get off the bonnet, before a slur from one of the co-accused’s precipitated a verbal altercation after the alleged victim asked, “What did you say, mate?”
They said Mr Momia, 23 and of Dandenong, first punched the alleged victim, before he was “continuously” kicked by the four men across his head, groin and back.
Prosecutors said the victim’s girlfriend, a 20-year-old Endeavour Hills woman, jumped to the ground and lay herself over her boyfriend so as to protect him, including by cradling his head, and was herself assaulted and incurred minor injuries.
They said the victim was left unconscious and covered in blood while the four co-accused ran east along Jackson St out of concern of being found.
Prosecutors claimed Mr Momia said to his co-accused “boys we need to dip” before leaving.
Police informant Christos Pappas told the court over video link that CCTV footage from a nearby Woolworths captured “most of the incident” including the moment from when the alleged victim fell to the ground.
Prosecutors also said there was video footage of the co-accused fleeing the scene.
Police were said to have seen the victim unconscious and “covered in blood” before he was taken to hospital.
Mr Nous, 19 of Dandenong, Mr Abdulrahman, also 19 and of Dandenong, and Mr Momia were denied bail by His Honour Robert Stary.
Mr Buram made no application for bail.
All are due to return to court in March.
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