Jews attacked in Bondi – Man charged

I sincerely hope that those who were quick to wrongly accuse the attackers of the 5 Jewish people in Bondi, as being Muslim, can see how wrong they were.

In fact, the taxi driver who apprehended one of the assailants is a Lebanese Muslim.

As I said in Blogs, Facebook pages and web sites,

“Don’t accuse without evidence. Just imagine if the shoe was on the other foot”

I don’t wish to be involved in racial profiling here, but the names Spartaco Marciano Di Bella and Robert Tamaki Clifford, are anything but Muslim and/or Arab.

Waverley Local Court

A man accused of being involved in an anti-Semitic brawl that caused community outrage has turned up to a Sydney court with a broken leg and pleaded not guilty.

Four men aged 66, 48, 39 and 27, and a 62-year-old woman were taken to hospital after a melee on Bondi’s Blair Street in the early hours of October 26.

Spartaco Marciano Di Bella was charged with affray and pleaded not guilty at Waverley Local Court on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old Mascot resident turned up to court with crutches and a broken leg and was supported by family.

His lawyer told the court he was pleading not guilty to the affray charge.

Wearing a white satin tie, a white business shirt and a black suit jacket with black shorts, he told reporters outside court “I feel remorse for the family” but would not comment on the matter.

Court papers showed co-accused Robert Tamaki Clifford, who remains in custody, has pleaded not guilty to affray and assault occasioning grievous bodily harm.

Clifford, 26, was also charged with having a knife in a public place.

Two 17-year-olds were also charged with affray and breach of bail.

Police allege they were among eight men who made anti-Semitic comments to the five victims, who were reportedly returning from a Jewish Sabbath dinner.

The five injured during the brawl suffered concussion, a fractured cheekbone, possible broken nose, lacerations and bruising.

They were treated at St Vincent’s Hospital.

The incident caused outrage with Premier Barry O’Farrell saying at the time that there would be zero tolerance for religious discrimination.

The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies said the attack highlighted the need for effective criminal laws addressing racial attacks.

The NSW Anti-Discrimination Board president Stepan Kerkyasharian confirmed the body would investigate the attack.

The two men will return to Waverley Local Court on January 14.

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