Veteran bashed for 50 cents

Antipodean Andy · Oct 2, 2008

War vet bashed for 50 cents | NEWS.com.au

A COUPLE allegedly bashed an 82-year-old disabled World War II veteran for 50c in a busy street.

Kristopher Cowie, 30, was freed on bail by a magistrate yesterday after his alleged attack on Ernest Evans, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Mr Cowie's girlfriend Tracey Prater, 29, was bailed by police after the incident.

Mr Cowie allegedly punched Mr Evans in the head in Caringbah, Sydney, on Wednesday afternoon - allegedly hard enough to send Mr Evans flying into the gutter, covered in blood.

Mr Evans served in the army in Bougainville and for two years in the occupation forces in Japan.

At the time of the attack Mr Evans was holding his discharge papers from hospital, where he has spent eight of the past 11 weeks being treated for ailments including emphysema, a quadruple bypass, a missing kidney and a replaced hip.

He was sitting outside a charity shop while his wife Una was inside buying a war history book.

When Mrs Evans tried to defend her husband, Ms Prater allegedly said: "Do not get involved or you will get what he is getting."

"All I could see was a person upside down in the gutter and on the road, legs in the air," Mrs Evans said. "I thought, 'Who's that?' and then I saw his hat and I realised it was Ernie and I ran over."

Mr Cowie was freed by magistrate James Coombs despite being on bail for other offences.

Yesterday, in Sutherland Court, police opposed bail.

Mr Cowie was so unco-operative, "antagonistic and difficult" that police were unable to get fingerprints or photographs, court documents said.

He interrupted proceedings to say that Mr Evans, more than 50 years his senior, punched him in the mouth, before asking, "Should I be quiet?"

Police alleged that Mr Cowie returned with Ms Prater after asking for the 50c and without a word "struck the victim with a closed right fist to the ... left eye and temple region".

"The force of the punch has caused the victim to fall backwards from his seated position over the back of the bench and fall to the ground."

Ms Prater then "physically stopped" Mrs Evans, telling her, "that man tried to hit us with his walking stick", to which Mrs Evans said: "I don't think so."

Several young men followed the pair as they fled, leading police to them.

Mr Evans said he was touched by the help given to him by strangers, including shopkeepers who brought him drinks and even a wet towel, and yesterday he returned to thank them.
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spidge · Oct 2, 2008

Total trash!

Freeing him on bail - what a joke.

Brian S · Oct 3, 2008

Thugs

spidge said: ↑

Total trash!

Freeing him on bail - what a joke.
Click to expand...

Could be that while on bail someone will take the opportunity to administer a little "Rough Justice".

Kyt · Oct 3, 2008

So he beat up someone for 50c? Well someone should ask him for $5 and then give him the proportiional treatment...with a tip added

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