Oz youth hated Indians, beat up cabbie: court told

Melbourne: A 23-year-old Indian cab driver suffered multiple fractures after he was attacked by his passenger, who believes Indians are selfish and took away his mother's job.

A court in Melbourne was told about the charges against Murat Kilink, 22, who allegedly attacked the Indian student in Campbellfield over two years ago and left him with a fractured skull, nose and cheekbone.

The attack could be "racially inspired," The Age reported on Thursday. Kilinc, who is unemployed, pleaded guilty to recklessly causing serious injury and was remanded for sentencing next week.

His psychologist Rachael Freeland told the court that Kilinc felt Indians acted "in a way that was completely self-serving."

Kilinc believed Indians had undercut local workers in the Shepparton fruit-picking areas and securing work at their expense. He believed his mother lost a cleaning job to an Indian, said Freeland.

When asked by Judge Joe Gullaci if a combination of Kilinc's alcohol abuse, anger issues and hatred of Indians might explain the offence, she said they might have "contributed" to it.

According to prosecutor Jim Bessell, Kilinc and another man effectively left the victim -- who was not identified -- to die after the attack in Campbellfield.

Bessell said on February 16, 2008, witnesses heard screams, moans and cries and two people running before finding the driver surrounded by blood in his cab.

Bessell told Judge Gullaci one of the aggravating features of the offence was that Kilinc had expressed racial hatred towards Indians, and he argued that could be considered a factor in sentencing.

However, defence barrister Gregory Hughan said Kilinc, who was then 19 and on bail for other offences, was on a downward spiral after his father left home and a relationship ended. Hughan said Kilinc had expressed remorse and shame.

Judge Gullaci declared that the "time has come when the court has to send a message loud and clear" that excessive drinking or that someone's father has left, a relationship has ended "or the dog's died" is not an excuse for violence and crime.