Cassandra was on the tram home when she alleges she was punched in the face by a stranger on a tram in Northcote, Melbourne, leaving her with headaches and a massive dental bill. Now she wants tougher police powers
A woman has been left with a $6,000 dental bill after she was allegedly punched in the mouth and forehead by a stranger on a tram home from work.
A woman has been left with a $6,000 dental bill after she was allegedly punched in the mouth and forehead by a stranger on a tram home from work.
Cassandra, 31, who did not wish to provide her surname, was riding the tram in Northcote, in Melbournes inner city, on Monday at about 12.30pm when she was allegedly assaulted by a 41-year-old man.
She said the man was playing music out loud before cranking it up to a level that made it impossible for passengers to hear the tram stop announcements.
When Cassandra, who works in construction, asked the man to turn down his music, he asked if she was a tourist before allegedly punching her twice in the face.
She attempted to restrain the man while three other passengers on board called police.
When the tram came to a stop, two other men jumped in to help Cassandra perform a citizens arrest on the alleged attacker.
It was about 10 minutes before the cops arrived, he kept trying to go for me while we restrained him and was (allegedly) punching my body and tried to push me into oncoming traffic, Cassandra told Daily Mail Australia.
He had tried to get away and was saying things like oh, my dog has run away but when the police arrived, he just dropped to the ground.
Cassandra, 31, was riding the tram in Northcote, in Melbournes inner city, on Monday at about 12.30pm when she was allegedly punched in the mouth and forehead
She also suffered bruising to her forearms and shoulder while trying to restrain the man
Cassandra said that while she was trying to restrain him, the man allegedly yelled out a series of disturbing threats.
He was (allegedly) saying Ill find out where you live, Ill f***ing kill you, she said.
The man didnt appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol and seemed like a normal passenger before the alleged attack, Cassandra added.
Shocking photos show the extent of damage the alleged assault took on the 31-year-old, with Cassandra having to undergo a root canal on her teeth.
Her total medical bills are estimated to set her back $6,000.
Its still affecting me each day, I have headaches and I cant chew and thats expected to last for two weeks, she said.
She also suffered bruises to her right shoulder and both forearms.
The 31-year-old managed to restrain her alleged attacker with the help of two bystanders
Victoria Police confirmed the man had been charged with recklessly cause injury, intentionally cause injury and aggravated assault on a female.
Cassandra was taken to hospital after the alleged assault with non life-threatening injuries.
She said had it not been for the two men who helped her restrain the man, the outcome wouldve been very different.
I commend and need to thank them and the three people on the tram, I wouldnt have had that result without them, she said.
Theyre all a great representation of the Australian spirit.
Cassandra is now calling for tougher legislation to be brought in on serial offenders, and for the Victorian government to bring back in move on powers for police.
The powers allow police to take action against a person whose conduct was causing a reasonable apprehension of violence, or the person is impeding another person from lawfully entering or leaving a premises.
Cassandra will have to fork out $6,000 in dental bills to get her teeth fixed
She also called for the supervised drug injection facility in North Richmond, which opened in 2018 and is just a couple hundred metres away from a primary school, to be closed.
Ive been talking to all my friends and family and theyve all seen similar (incidents of violence) just in the street, Cassandra said.
Even that day they had seen someone obviously on drugs walking around menacing the community. Everyones experiencing that.
I expect better safety and consequences for violent crime for our justice system.
You hear about repeat offenders getting bail no matter how hard the crime is.
Cassandra added she is now afraid to ride the tram, which she usually does to work.
She also suffers from epilepsy which means she is at times unable to drive.
I feel very unsafe, she said.
Daily Mail Australia understands the accused has a criminal history.
He was bailed and is due to face court on November 15.
Cassandra (pictured before the alleged attack) added she is now afraid to ride the tram, which she usually does to work
