My late husband and I were casually walking through the domestic terminal in Sydney to pick up our bags before heading to the International terminal at the airport.
We saw and noticed a scuffle between men which appeared to be escalating in numbers, strength and violence. My training as a nurse kicked in and the letter D for danger sprang into my mind.
I noticed an elderly couple sitting with walking sticks and walked over to them to assist them to move away from the impending violence that was clearly heading in their direction. I still had no idea that I was about to become involved in tragic circumstances that should never have happened and were totally out of my control.
I witnessed three men viciously attacking a young guy who would probably have weighed no more than 65 kilograms. They just kept repeatedly punching him and one grossly overweight man picked up a bollard and started using this implement like it was an axe. My position was approximately 10 metres away from this frightening scene. I yelled at the perpetrator telling him “stop you’re killing him”.
K.A Whyte will never forget the day she got caught up in the Sydney airport bikie brawl. Photo: Insight Source: Insight
I got so incensed with his maliciousness, the force and apparent intent of his violence, and then the three-on-one brutality. It was then that I looked at the man using the bollard weapon straight in his eyes and thought that with the CCTV there would be no problem recognising him if I had to in the future.
I had lived in Bourke for many years where there are dingo/cattle dog crosses. The majority of this cross were fantastic but occasionally you got one that was vicious and mad, and Bushies used to warn about men who have these characteristics as “ be careful he has yellow dog in him” because we all knew what that meant. To me the perpetrator had that "yellow dog” look in his eyes. When I saw that look I was absolutely scared, because I did think I was going to be next, but fortunately for me he took off.
The other two men involved in the attack also ran away while the final blow was being struck to this kid, as did most, if not all, of the others involved in the bashing and the brawl. They actually looked like troops running from a battle lost, because as they ran recklessly to escape they smashed into innocent people who were being bowled over like skittles.
Then suddenly at my feet I had this poor kid lying there gasping for breath, he was somebody’s son, somebody’s brother and someone needing to be helped and resuscitated, which has been my job for over 40 years, and which I started doing as soon as it was safe. I was assisted as it turned out by a paramedic, whom I never got to thank.
CCTV footage of bikie gang members at Sydney Airport domestic terminal. Photo:Supplied Source: Supplied
After the ambulance took the victim away I couldn’t wait to leave the scene and get on the flight to Jakarta. I assumed there would be no problems identifying the murderer, but how wrong I was. Apparently many of the witnesses had young children and were nervous about their children’s safety, some reportedly even received threats. This made me more determined that I was not going to be bullied and cowed by these thugs; admittedly my teenage children were in other parts of the world at the time so I was not too concerned about their safety.
I would be lying if I said the whole incident didn’t affect me emotionally, particularly the court case where I found having the accused gang members siting in the dock and staring malevolently at me most intimidating. Looking through the photo books identifying the perpetrator was not a problem for me; I saw his photo, identified the man I had seen and then closed the books. However, I was in Indonesia and fortunately out of harm’s way.
I am so lucky with my medical training where I was taught very early on how to debrief after traumas and to compartmentalize situations. However, after my experience I decided to no longer work in emergency departments but rather to spend my future time in maternity where I can assist in the beginning of life.
I have been asked recently if justice has been served in Hawi's murder but I don’t believe in “an eye for an eye” as you ultimately end up with no eyes.
Catch up on Witness part II here:
