Kayla Potts bleeding heavily from the face. Photo: Channel 9
Kayla Potts bleeding heavily from the face. Photo: Channel 9
New pictures show the bloody aftermath of an "all out affray" involving two Victorian police officers and four civilians, including a 25-year-old mum.
Langwarrin woman Kayla Potts, 25, her fiance Jack Houldcroft, 26, her brother Trent Potts, 27, and friend Phil O'Donnell, 38, have been charged with two counts of assaulting police, affray, violent disorder and intentionally causing injury.
All four were charged in relation to an incident at St Kilda in the early hours of Sunday morning when police were called to an alleged assault of a transgender woman. A fifth person was also charged this morning.
When police arrived on Sunday morning and attempted to speak with Mr Potts, he broke free and ran. Two officers gave chase, but one stumbled and fell.
Kayla Potts bleeding heavily from the face. Photo: Channel 9
The other became involved in a physical confrontation with Mr Potts when the 27-year-old "shaped up".
Senior Constable Jacob Laidlaw told the Melbourne Magistrates' Court yesterday that Mr Potts began punching the officer in the chest. His sister, Kayla Potts, is accused of punching the officer in the side of the head, news.com.au reports.
The officer responded by swinging his flashlight at her, splitting her head open below her hairline in the middle of her forehead. In court, she wore a bandage to cover the wound.
New pictures show the young mum's head bleeding heavily shortly after she was struck. Blood can be seen pouring down her face and around her mouth.
Kayla Potts is escorted from the Melbourne Magistrate's Court by her mother after being granted bail for charges relating to the alleged bashing of a police officer. Photo: News Corp Australia
Police allege her fiance, Mr Houldcroft, intervened after Ms Potts was struck. Sen-Constable Laidlaw told the court Mr Houldcroft was "kicking and punching" an officer while he lay on the ground.
A fourth man, Phil O'Donnell, allegedly grabbed the same officer's head and slammed it repeatedly into the pavement before onlookers intervened.
Ms Potts was granted bail yesterday but Mr Houldcroft will be remanded in custody until June. Mr Potts and Mr O'Donnell will appear before the magistrate for bail hearings today, along with a 26-year-old man who was charged this morning.
The court heard both officers suffered significant injuries. One has a suspected cheekbone fracture and the other has a ruptured bicep which requires surgery.
Phil O'Donnell was filmed allegedly assaulting a police officer. Source:Instagram
Trent Potts allegedly kneed a transgender woman in the groin before police arrived. Source:Facebook
Sen-Constable Laidlaw said the confrontation began after a transgender woman called police from a 30th birthday party at a licensed venue. She told them she had been kneed in the groin by Mr Potts.
Wayne Gatt from the Victorian Police Association said the vision was "one of the most horrific (attacks) on a police officer I have ever seen".
"When you see people in the community commit such vicious acts, it is only sheer good fortune that people punched or assaulted in that manner are not killed," he told 3AW radio on Monday.
Victoria Police Superintendent Tony Silva described the attack as sickening.
"I would describe it as rag dolling him, smashing his head into the concrete roadway," Mr Silva said.
