By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A CRANBOURNE West man will fight charges after allegedly punching then pushing another man off a railway station platform and leaving him with a broken leg on the train tracks in Noble Park.
Kimiora Tangatapoto, 19, faces charges including assault, recklessly causing serious injury and reckless conduct over the incident at Yarraman station about 5.53pm on 8 April.
Police told Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 26 September that the victim had suffered a permanent limp as a result of the incident but were awaiting further medical records.
Defence lawyer Aaron Eidelson said Tangatapoto claimed he acted in self-defence after the victim allegedly threatened to stab him with a hypodermic needle.
“There’ll be an argument if what my client says is correct – does that justify his response?
“Was that reasonable and appropriate to what my client says confronted him.”
Tangatapoto’s claim however could not be substantiated by police – who did not search the victim’s bag at the time, Mr Eidelson said.
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen told Mr Eidelson that police at the time “wouldn’t have a reason” to search the victim’s bag.
Noting police did not object to the matter being tried summarily, Mr Vandersteen booked the hearing at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 13 December.
