Sickening moment nine-months pregnant woman, 31, is repeatedly punched in the head and stomped on by a stranger at a Sydney café - before a heroic citizen's arrest
Horrific footage has emerged of a heavily pregnant woman being punched, stomped on and kicked by a stranger at a Sydney cafe.
The 31-year-old woman, who is 38 weeks pregnant, was with friends at Bay Vista cafe on Church Street, Parramatta, at 10.30pm on Wednesday when she was set upon by the man.
Her family claims the incident was racially motivated.
CCTV footage from inside the cafe shows the man approaching the table of women and leaning over towards the mother-to-be.
Without any warning a man lashes out, throwing a flurry of punches that knock the woman to the ground.
He can then be seen stomping on her head as shocked onlookers try to intervene.
Moments later other patrons run in to help the woman.
Her friend can be seen using a chair to hit the attacker as others attempt to drag him away.
Cafe patrons managed to pin the man down in a dramatic citizen's arrest and restrain him until police arrived.
The injured woman was taken to Westmead Hospital for observation and for assessment of her unborn child, and released on Thursday morning.
Police said the woman did not know her attacker, but her family believes it was a racially motivated attack.
'My poor cousins wife was attacked at Bay Vista last night. This was a racial attack,' a relative posted on Facebook.
'May Allah heal you from this traumatic experience. My heart is aching for you.'
Another relative said the attacked had left the woman 'all bruised up and swollen'.
She suffered head injuries in the attack, but was released from Westmead Hospital on Thursday morning.
Police later arrested and charged Stipe Lozina, 43.
He appeared before Parramatta Local Court on Thursday charged with affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The accused will remain behind bars until at least next month.
Parramatta police Inspector Lucas Sywenkyj said the horrific assault left the woman visibly shaken.
As a result of the assault does seem emotionally and physically traumatized,' Mr Sywenkyj said.
'Our police investigation is still in its infancy but it would appear to be completely random and unprovoked.'
