Australian gets 20 years for attacking Indian doc

Terming the street crime against Indians as "cowardly" and "despicable", a Victorian court on Wednesday handed out long imprisonment sentences to attackers of an Indian origin doctor.

Haikerwal State County Court Judge Joe Gullaci jailed 20-year old Alfer Azzopardi who bashed Mukesh Hairkerwal with serious blows with a baseball bat, for 18-and-a-half years with a minimum of 13-and-a-half years, media reports said on Wednesday.

Former chief of Australian Medical Association Haikerwal was walking through a park in the bayside suburb of Williamstown on September 27 last year when he was set upon and bashed by the men.

Another co-accused Michael Baltatzis, 20, of Glenroy, who together with Azzopardi took part in 23 armed robberies over a two-month period, was jailed for 16-and-a-half years and must serve 10-and-a-half years before being eligible for parole.

A third man, Sean Gabriel, 20, of Hoppers Crossing, was jailed for nine years and nine months with a minimum of six years, report said.

Announcing the sentences, Judge Gullaci dubbed the attacks as cowardly and despicable.

"Each of the victims was selected at random, but each had a common feature, that is they were vulnerable and alone and in parks or (other) public places," he was quoted by an Australian Associated Press report.

Haikerwal was not in court for the sentences.

The court was told Haikerwal's skull was heard to crack after Azzopardi took a swing like he was "hitting a six at cricket", causing a severe head injury to the doctor.

Azzopardi laughed as he fled the scene, before minutes later joining in on an attack on another man.

Haikerwal required emergency surgery and was placed in an induced coma for 24 hours.

He remained in hospital for many weeks.

The attack came towards the end of a two-month armed robbery spree by Azzopardi and the group that involved more than 30 victims.

One of their victims was told: "If you scream or cry, I will kill you".

Many of the targets were of Indian or Asian origin.

Welcoming the judgement, Sydney based cardiologist Yadu Singh said "It is a very good move and will send a strong message to such criminals that were attacking people for no reason.