Hi,
Late last year I was involved in an assault incident where I was assaulted inside a fast-food outlet of a major fast-food chain. I'll give some background then lead into my specific query. I'm based in Melbourne, Victoria, which is where the incident occurred.
The incident happened during my lunch break, when I had just sat down to have my lunch. A man at the counter got into a loud argument with a male staff member and then punched the staff member in the face. The man proceeded to force his way onto the other side of the counter and the man and the staff member were locked in a wrestle on the ground, with the initial attacker on top of the staff member. I reacted instinctively to end the violence, and told them both that the police had been called and that they should break it up, then proceeded to lift the initial attacker off the staff member and move him away while restraining him. At this point, I had my back turned to where the staff member was, and before I could react the staff member got up, ran around me and punched the initial attacker in the face, while I had him restrained. At this point I and some others (by-standers) yelled to the staff member to back-off and no further violence occurred. I let the initial attacker go (my intention was simply to separate the two, not restrain the attacker for long). The initial attacker left the shop, then returned accompanied by another man, and the two of them proceeded to attack me. Though I did receive some injuries, I thankfully avoided serious injury. When the police arrived at the scene shortly after the incident was over I gave them my statement and told them I would be pressing charges against the perpetrators.
My query is specifically regarding the actions of the staff member. I had intervened simply to end the violence and defuse the situation, and I would argue that had the staff member not punched the initial attacker while I had him restrained, the incident may not have proceeded any further. Instead, the reckless action of the staff member inflamed the situation and caused the violence to be re-directed to me, thus putting me in danger. I would therefore like to know if I have any legal recourse under criminal law against the staff member and/or the fast-food chain in question. What my options are and how strong a case I may have?
Thanks in advance and I look forward to your response.
Late last year I was involved in an assault incident where I was assaulted inside a fast-food outlet of a major fast-food chain. I'll give some background then lead into my specific query. I'm based in Melbourne, Victoria, which is where the incident occurred.
The incident happened during my lunch break, when I had just sat down to have my lunch. A man at the counter got into a loud argument with a male staff member and then punched the staff member in the face. The man proceeded to force his way onto the other side of the counter and the man and the staff member were locked in a wrestle on the ground, with the initial attacker on top of the staff member. I reacted instinctively to end the violence, and told them both that the police had been called and that they should break it up, then proceeded to lift the initial attacker off the staff member and move him away while restraining him. At this point, I had my back turned to where the staff member was, and before I could react the staff member got up, ran around me and punched the initial attacker in the face, while I had him restrained. At this point I and some others (by-standers) yelled to the staff member to back-off and no further violence occurred. I let the initial attacker go (my intention was simply to separate the two, not restrain the attacker for long). The initial attacker left the shop, then returned accompanied by another man, and the two of them proceeded to attack me. Though I did receive some injuries, I thankfully avoided serious injury. When the police arrived at the scene shortly after the incident was over I gave them my statement and told them I would be pressing charges against the perpetrators.
My query is specifically regarding the actions of the staff member. I had intervened simply to end the violence and defuse the situation, and I would argue that had the staff member not punched the initial attacker while I had him restrained, the incident may not have proceeded any further. Instead, the reckless action of the staff member inflamed the situation and caused the violence to be re-directed to me, thus putting me in danger. I would therefore like to know if I have any legal recourse under criminal law against the staff member and/or the fast-food chain in question. What my options are and how strong a case I may have?
Thanks in advance and I look forward to your response.
