A Victorian police officer has been stood down from duty and charged with recklessly causing injury after he allegedly punched a 70-year-old woman while in hospital.
The 26-year-old constable was stood down after an internal investigation, Victoria Police confirmed.
Sylvia Villani was being treated at the Northern Hospital in Epping in April when the alleged assault took place.
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She sustained a broken eye socket and claimed the alleged attack came out of nowhere.
“I threw a bit of bread on the ground. I had my leg in a plaster,” Villani told 9News.
“I was in a wheelchair and he punched me,” she claimed.
She said it was painful, and her eye was left “black and blue”.
“I can’t walk, I can’t sit, I’m buggered,” she said.
“I don’t know why he did it.
“I did call him some nasty names, I wasn’t happy, (but) I didn’t deserve it.”
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Villani’s loved ones say they were only alerted to the incident after receiving a call from doctors.
Her son Rick Villani was told three police officers went to the hospital for a separate incident before his mother was allegedly assaulted.
He claims his family has been left in the dark.
“I know my mum’s got mental health, and she’s not perfect,” he said.
“They’ve treated me, my wife and my mother with no respect.”
Victoria Police said the male officer was on duty when the incident occurred.
The officer has been charged with one count of recklessly causing injury.
He will appear before Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on September 9.
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