Italian backpacker suffers fractured vertebra in alleged attack by two 13yo girls on Geraldton foreshore

Two 13-year-old girls are accused of a brutal attack along the Geraldton foreshore that left an Italian backpacker with a fractured vertebra. Police say a third suspect filmed the shocking attack against the woman on a mobile phone, whose only interaction with the alleged culprits before the incident was to say hello to one of them. Geraldton police have charged a 13-year-old girl and say they have identified a second suspect, with more charges expected to be laid. The attack occurred on Wednesday, February 1, around 7.30pm, when police say the 30-year-old Italian tourist carrying a backpack was sitting on a wall at the Geraldton Backpackers on the Foreshore watching the sunset. Police said the woman said hello to a 13-year-old girl walking past her, who was wearing a light blue school uniform and black shorts. Geraldton police officer-in-charge Sen. Sgt Chris Martin said the woman began walking back to the hostel when she was approached by another 13-year-old girl who allegedly grabbed her hair, punched her in the face multiple times and dragged her to the ground, while a third girl filmed the incident on a mobile phone. “The victim has began to scream and the (alleged) assault stopped,” he said. Sen. Sgt Martin said the backpacker shouted out to the accused as they ran away, which saw them return. “The victim has walked back to Geraldton Backpackers and was about to walk into the gate when the suspects returned,” he said. Sen. Sgt Martin said the 13-year-old, who was greeted earlier, allegedly repeated the word “what” before dragging the victim on the ground by her hair and kicking her in the back while she was lying on her side. The woman entered the hostel and requested help. She was taken to hospital by the hostel’s manager. Sen. Sgt Martin said she saw the accused girls during the car ride and “pointed them out to the driver of the car”. The woman was admitted to Geraldton Health Campus and initial scans indicated she had a fractured vertebra. A 13-year-old girl presented to Geraldton police station with her mother this Wednesday, a week later, and was charged with assault occasioning bodily harm. She is scheduled to appear in Geraldton Children’s Court on Tuesday, February 28. The girl was bailed on conditions she doesn’t visit the Geraldton foreshore area defined by Foreshore Drive, Fitzgerald Street and Durlacher Street unless in the company of her mother, does not contact the alleged victim or be within 20 metres of them or where they live or work, complies with a night-time curfew and is present during curfew checks. Geraldton police say they have identified the second suspect and will be pressing charges.