Men charged over alleged assault of teenager on tram

Two men have been charged after a 15-year-old boy was seriously assaulted on a tram in South Melbourne in April.

Police were told the teenager was with his girlfriend travelling to Southern Cross Station at around 9.15pm on April 23.

When the tram reached the stop near Ferrars St in South Melbourne, two unknown men boarded the tram and allegedly began harassing the victim’s girlfriend.

The victim was involved in a verbal altercation with the two men when they allegedly assaulted the boy and stomped on his head.

The tram stopped and the offenders, believed to be aged in their 40s, fled the scene, police said.

Several passengers witnessed the attack with one passenger seriously affected by the incident.

The victim was taken to hospital with serious head injuries.

A 40-year-old man from South Melbourne has been charged with affray and committing an indictable offence while on bail. He was remanded to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on June 5.

A 37-year-old man from St Kilda has been charged with affray and has been bailed to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on October 26.

Detective Senior Constable Megan Fisher from the Victoria Police Transit Safety Division described the assault as “horrific”.

The charges follow an appeal for information by Transit Crime Investigation Unit detectives.

Police spokeswoman Sergeant Julie-Anne Newman said, “Detectives would like to thank the media and community for their assistance.” •