The 10-year-old boy who was allegedly punched in the head by a stranger in Melbourne’s CBD has brain cancer, it has been revealed.
The little boy had travelled from Phillip Island with his mother and siblings for treatment when he was allegedly attacked by Jerry Sowood on Tuesday.
His mother Cherie is in hospital after she was allegedly stabbed seven times with a pair of scissors trying to defend her son.
Speaking exclusively to 9News the boy’s uncle said the family had just arrived in Melbourne and were going to their hotel before the alleged attack unfolded in front of Victoria Police’s headquarters at about 1pm.
“(I’m) just absolutely disgusted,” the child’s uncle told the broadcaster.
“She can’t be with her son, it’s traumatic enough fighting cancer.
“They’re now looking to see if it’s caused any extra damage, if there’s any more inflammation around where the tumour is.”
Cherie is recovering at the Royal Melbourne Hospital while her son was taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital as a precaution.
Cherie’s brother Kirk Holt said she was in a stable condition but has suffered ligament damage around her neck and has a fractured leg.
He told the Herald Sun his nephew had been “knocked to the ground” by the force of the punch.
Mr Sowood, 27, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on violence charges on Wednesday.
He has been charged with affray, intentionally cause injury and unlawful assault, conduct endanger life and conduct endanger serious injury.
After a lawyer told magistrate Vincenzo Caltabiano he had not received instructions from Mr Sowood, the accused man started speaking directly to the court.
“Mr Sowood, there is someone here, a lawyer here who is willing to help,” Mr Caltabiano said.
“No, thank you,” he responded.
Mr Sowood declined to apply for bail and said he did not want to speak to a custody nurse because he was “religious”.
Asked by the magistrate if he was on any medication or had any diagnosis, he responded: “I was in mental state of mind, what I do”.
“I took a scissors and I stabbed a woman, I was in a mental state of mind,” he said.
“There was three people, they kicked and punched me in the head.
“At least they’re both still breathing so I keep my humanity, they might be a bit traumatised.”
His microphone was muted after Mr Caltabiano expressed concern there was “no need” to comment on the allegations at this stage.
Mr Sowood was remanded into custody to return to court in November.
Tuesday’s dramatic incident was captured on camera, with footage of hero tradies jumping on the alleged offender being widely circulated on a number of news outlets.
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