7:35am Thursday 29th July 2010
By Jenny Makin
A TEENAGE girl has been charged for her alleged part in an attack that left a young cyclist in a coma.
Stephanie Hill, 18, is accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent on 24-year-old David Baker, who was set upon by a group as he crossed a Southampton bridge.
David, who has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, had been cycling home from a friend’s house when the attack happened at around 11.30pm on Tuesday June 8.
A passer-by raised the alarm and managed to flag down a police car to the scene at Central Bridge, near the Itchen Bridge.
He was taken to Southampton General Hospital, where he was in a coma for several days and is still being treated now.
A major investigation was launched, led by detectives from Shirley CID, to find those responsible.
In a bid to find his attackers, David’s mother Jane Hiatt, who had last seen her son on his birthday, a day before the assault, took the unusual step of releasing a picture of him as he lay in an induced coma in |hospital.
Last night police said David was showing signs of recovery and was sitting up in his hospital bed. However, the full extent of his injuries may not be known for two years.
Hill, who was from the Thornhill area of the city but is of no fixed address, was initially arrested on suspicion of attempted murder on June 11 in the Hedge End area, but was on police bail until yesterday.
Following interview she was charged and then released on police bail until August 12, when she is due to appear before Southampton Magistrates’ Court.
Paul Johnson, 21, who was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, yesterday had his bail extended by police until September, pending further inquiries.
John Smith, 26, of Tamella Road, Botley, has previously been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in relation to the bridge attack and has been remanded in custody.
Anyone with information can call Det Sgt Chris Yates at Shirley CID on 0845 045 4545.
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