Across Asia: Australia

Suspect held in October attack on US Marine

An Australian man has been charged in an attack on a US Marine on shore leave that left him in a coma for 10 days, police said yesterday.

New South Wales state police said they arrested the 31-year-old Sydney man on Wednesday and charged him with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm in the October 2008 attack on Lance Corporal Brian Lee. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The suspect, who was not identified because of police policy, is to appear in court Jan 28.

Lee, then 23, had just completed a tour of Iraq and was on shore leave from the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu. He wandered into a road in Sydney's nightclub district and blocked the path of a car, and a passenger then got out and punched him in the face, police said. The California-based Marine fell to the ground and hit his head.

H1N1 jabs urged

Australian Health Minister Nicola Roxon yesterday urged Australians to shed their complacent attitude and make sure their families are vaccinated against H1N1 flu.

As the vaccine became available for children as young as six months yesterday, Roxon said high H1N1 infection rates in North America were concerning.

"We are in a global battle against this pandemic," Roxon said.

(China Daily 12/04/2009 page11)