Jerry Sowood, 27, is in custody for hitting the minor and then attacking his mother with scissors in front of her other two children. Three passersby managed to subdue the attacker until the police arrived
A violent attack that occurred in downtown Melbourne, Australia, left a mother seriously injured as she tried to protect her 10-year-old son after a stranger attacked him while they were walking through the city.
The accused is Jerry Sowood, a 27-year-old illegal immigrant from Liberia, who was arrested and remains in custody. According to the charges filed in court, Sowood approached the family and struck the boy on the head. The minor was in Melbourne for medical check-ups related to an inoperable brain tumor he suffers from.
The illegal immigrant being detained by the police and by civilians
After hitting the boy, the attacker reportedly continued walking but returned when the mother, Cherie Holt, 46 years old, intervened to protect her son, and the immigrant began to attack her repeatedly with scissors.
Holt suffered four stab wounds, injuries to the ligaments in her neck and shoulder, and a leg fracture. Her son was also taken to the hospital for evaluation after the assault. Subsequently, doctors determined that the attack had not caused any additional swelling around the minor's brain tumor.
The assault occurred just a few meters from the Victoria Police headquarters on Spencer Street. Holt's three children witnessed the attack. Her 16-year-old son ran to seek help while his mother tried to stop the assailant.
Three bystanders immediately intervened upon seeing the situation. The men rushed at Sowood, managed to separate him from the woman, and held him down until police officers arrived. Authorities described their intervention as crucial and highlighted that the outcome could have been much worse had they not acted.
A protest in Australia against immigration
The case has raised concerns about violence caused by illegal immigrants on the streets of Melbourne. The family, who had traveled from Phillip Island for the boy to receive medical care, was also deeply affected by witnessing the attack.
As the judicial process continues, authorities will need to determine the exact circumstances of the assault and Sowood's criminal responsibility. For now, the intervention of the three bystanders prevented the attack from having even more serious consequences.
