Assaulted while bystanders watch

By Melissa Meehan
IT’S a horror story we have heard too often– a man assaulted as onlookers walk by.
“Steve”, (not his real name), said he was travelling home on the train from Berwick when he was accidentally pushed into another passenger.
“There were a whole heap of people,” Steve said.
“So that’s why I bumped into him, but he swore at me as I apologised.”
Steve thought that was it.
But after getting off the train at Pakenham, he said he was grabbed from behind, pushed against a nearby fence and strangled by the man.
“He was swearing at me, saying he was going to kill me,” he said.
“I was trying to stay calm, but obviously it was scary.”
Despite many onlookers, Steve said no-one came to his aid.
“That was the saddest part of it all, all these people and no-one helped me,” he said.
“I’ve been overseas for six months and I felt safe catching public transport over there, but within a week of being back in Australia something like this happens – it’s scary.”
Luckily for Steve, the man, who he said stunk of alcohol, didn’t follow through with his threats and he was able to walk away unharmed.
He didn’t go to police, but wants to warn anyone catching public transport to keep their wits about them.