Man accused of restraining three Indigenous children with cable ties pleads not guilty to assault
A man accused of racially aggravated assault after he allegedly restrained three young Indigenous children with cable ties has pleaded not guilty.
Matej Radelic, 45, appeared in Broome magistrates court on Monday charged with three counts of common assault in circumstances of aggravation or racial aggravation.
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He allegedly forcibly restrained a six-year-old girl and two boys aged seven and eight at a home in the northern Western Australian town in March.
A video of the incident went viral on social media, showing the children allegedly forced to sit in the sun as they cried and pleaded for their release.
Police were called to a Cable Beach home when a neighbour reported seeing children swimming in a pool.
Ten minutes later police allegedly received a call from Radelic telling them he had “restrained” three children for allegedly causing damage.
When they arrived, officers found two of the children – the six-year-old girl and a seven-year-old boy – had been cable-tied.
Officers later found the third child, the eight-year-old boy, who had escaped.
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Radelic’s bail was extended and his case was listed for trial on September 12.