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Friday, 30 November, 2012
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Blind taught defence skill By CHERIE DONNELLAN
DEFENSIVE: Catherine Schnell, at rear, teaches self-defence techniques with Peter Tomlins and Ernie Drew as Peggy Soo and dog Pandora take a break in the foreground. Picture: TOMMY RITCHIE 90883
A GUIDE Dogs Victoria program has taught self-defence skills to a group of blind and visually imparied people in Geelong. Guide Dogs spokesperson Shelley Pannier said about a dozen participants underwent two-and-a-half hours of self-defence and safety lessons, which included Geelong police involvement. Self-defence instructor Catherine Schnell said people with vision problems needed to be “confident” when travelling independently. Ms Schnell said “using your voice” and a strong physical stance were “powerful ways” for blind people to assert themselves against wouldbe assailants. Physical force was the “last resort”, she said. “We still teach skills about how to use your hands to put distance between yourself and someone who is encroaching on your personal space and how to physically defend yourself if absolutely required but using your voice and maintaining good balance and stance are very important. “Telling people clearly that their behaviour is unwelcome alerts the person who is encroaching on your personal space and others around.” The participants were advised that the face was a “much more sensitive area to strike” than the groin if a physical response was unavoidable, Ms Schnell said. They also learnt how to break free of attackers with “twisting or turning techniques”.
Cabbie assaulted girl, 17 seem to warrant conviction but this was just a very clumsy attempt at someone trying at pulling a move on somebody.” Mr Baker said Hussain’s taxi license was suspended pending the outcome of the case. “There is no way he’ll be allowed to drive a cab again if he’s found guilty,” Mr Baker told the court. Mr Baker said a definition of “indecent assault” mostly referred to specific body parts without necessarily including kissing.
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The victim pushed Hussain away and ran toward her friend’s car “in shock”. She has since avoided taxis. Snr Const Bell said Hussain was cooperative with police when arrested but stated he left the taxi only to “check his tyre”. Hussain’s defence lawyer, Cameron Baker, told the court his client arrived in Australia from Pakistan on a student visa but had since sought refugee status, which a conviction could jeopardise. “On the surface, indecent assaults
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Magistrate John Lesser found Hussain guilty, saying he had “no doubt” the assault was “indecent” and in breach of the “trust situation” between a taxi driver and a passenger. “There are certain expectations in the community about taxis as a way to get from one place to another,” Mr Lesser said. But he noted Hussain’s behaviour was “at the lower end” of the scale. Mr Lesser also fined Hussain $2500.
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A MAGISTRATE has convicted and placed a former Geelong taxi driver ona registered sex offenders list after finding him guilty of indecently assaulting a 17-year-old girl. Nasrat Hussain, 24, of Castle Crt, Bell Park, pleaded not guilty to charges of indecent assault and unlawful assault in Geelong Magistrates Court this week. Police Prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Scott Bell said Hussain showed
“no remorse in any way whatsoever”. Snr Const Bell told the court the teenage victim took Hussain’s taxi alone between two Lara addresses about 11pm on Saturday, July 7. The victim, now 18, told the court she left the taxi to wait for her friend coming down the rural driveway to collect her. “The driver got out and as I got out to walk to the other side of the road he kissed me on the cheek and tried to kiss me on the lips. He grabbed my waist and pulled me towards him,” she said.
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By MICHELLE HERBISON