Chantelle Papi in hospital after the attack at the Formula 1 Hotel. Source: Herald Sun
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/crime-stoppers/victim-tells-police-of-bus-stop-horror/story-fnat7jfp-1226498110425
UPDATE: A GIRL, 17, has been charged and three other girls will be questioned over a savage gang attack on a young woman.
The arrest came on the same day the Herald Sun ran a report featuring the shocking assault on Chantelle Papi, who was left bloody and bruised on the footpath in Fawkner in Melbourne’s north.
Police have identified three other female suspects and are in the process of organising interviews with them.
The Craigieburn girl has been charged with affray, intentionally cause serious injury, recklessly cause serious injury and assault in company.
She was bailed to appear at a Children’s court at a later date.
An all-girl gang of four allegedly brutally attacked Chantelle Papi before stealing her mobile phone, banking cards and identification.
Police earlier released images in a bid to solve the case.
Ms Papi, who had travelled from her home in Seymour to see friends in Melbourne, said she blacked out during the beating and woke in a pool of blood.
“I’ve never seen so much blood … they bashed me so hard the doctors thought I might have lost my eyesight,” Ms Papi said.
The 17-year old was attacked outside the Formule1 Hotel on Sydney Rd, Fawkner, after her plans to travel home fell through on June 28.
Ms Papi sustained serious injuries, including multiple fractures to her face and neck.
Sgt Craig Spencer said it was a cowardly attack. “She was punched to the ground and then kicked and stomped on … and her hair extensions were torn from her head,” he said.
Ms Papi said she would never have expected such a random and brutal attack from a gang of women.
“I guess I was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” she said.
Youth worker Les Twentyman said all-girl gangs were attacking people across Melbourne, particularly in the north and western suburbs, where girls aged 13 to 16 years were forming violent gangs.
“It’s not sugar and spice and all things nice any more,” he said.
“It’s hard-edge stuff. I saw it was an issue in the United States. Here, they’ve been rolling people coming out of the casino.”
Mr Twentyman said taxi drivers were also attacked and commuters set upon at railway stations.
Some teen girls were used in gangs to “set up targets for male members to rob”, he said.
– Anthony Dowsley