An eight-year-old boy and a 37-year-old man allegedly assaulted an elderly man in Perth's southern suburbs in a random attack that left the victim suffering facial fractures and needing stitches.
Police said a 91-year-old man was sitting in a car on Val Street in Rockingham street last Friday night when the boy opened the vehicle's door and punched him in the head several times.
Police say the victim was unable to close the door, and the 37-year-old man then approached the vehicle and also punched him several times.
The elderly man, identified only as Peter, did not know either of his alleged attackers.
In a statement, Peter's family said he and an 86-year-old female friend had just left the Cruising Yacht Club to go home after a "nice night out with friends".
"There was no warning that the assault was about to take place," they said.
"No previous interaction or conversation between him and the people who assaulted him. He had never seen them before.
"They managed to drive off after a little while and when they arrived home, shaken and in total shock, they rang police."
'We are all so confused'
The family said Rockingham police officers showed care and compassion when taking their statements and an officer checked on Peter regularly when he was in the emergency department.
They said Peter and his friends had been gathering in Rockingham for about 15 years and "had never had an issue before this".
"Dad and a number of friends get together most Friday nights, at different venues in the Rockingham area, to have a dance, sing-along and catch up," they said.
"Dad said that he didn’t want to go out again, but his friends have said they will now leave venues at the same time to make him feel safer.
"We are all so confused, especially Dad, [about] why the assault has happened.
"After having stitches to his eyelid, confirmation of several fractures and many appointments for specialists to come, he is a lot more cautious when he is out and about."
WA Premier Mark McGowan, the MP for Rockingham, also expressed shock at the attack.
"I saw the photos, they're horrific … It'd be a terrible thing to happen at that age," he said.
"Normally it's a very peaceful and nice area. I go there all the time, literally all the time, with my family, and I've never seen anything like that happen there before.
"I hope the gentleman involved is OK and recovers OK. I just urge people to be respectful of our older citizens."
Accused tried to fight officers: police
The 37-year-old man accused over the attack, Danny Rattew, has been remanded in custody after making a brief appearance in court.
Police claim he refused to provide any identifying details to officers when he was arrested.
He allegedly resisted arrest and had to be carried to the police vehicle, and then tried to fight officers while in custody and threatened to harm them and their families.
He has been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, failing to comply with a request for personal details, obstructing officers and disorderly behaviour in a police station.
In Rockingham Magistrates Court today, police said they may upgrade the charge against Mr Rattew, who appeared via video link from Hakea Prison, to grievous bodily harm.
They said the investigating officer was waiting on medical reports on the victim's injuries.
Mr Rattew is due to reappear in court for a bail application on September 5.
The age of criminal responsibility in WA is 10 and no charges have been laid against the boy.
