Police established a crime scene in Brown Lane, North Melbourne. Picture: Caird David Source: Herald Sun
IMAGES of a man suspected of carrying out a brutal sex attack in North Melbourne have reportedly been captured by CCTV.
It is understood police are in the process of releasing a digital image of a man wanted for questioning over the terrifying attack on Sunday morning.
More to come
The victim in the attack fought back with enormous courage, a witness has revealed.
Ben Bishop was first on the scene after hearing the screams of the woman from a lane near his home early on Sunday morning.
Mr Bishop ran to help the bloodied woman, who had been raped and bashed but bravely fought her attacker off in Brown Lane.
Police are closely examining CCTV cameras along the route before a woman was raped in a Melbourne laneway. Picture: Cameron Lestrange
"I was lying in bed. I was about to go to sleep when I heard some screaming, what sounded like a normal drunk person screaming and shouting," Mr Bishop said yesterday.
Woman attacked in North Melbourne laneway
"But then it started to sound serious.
"I heard a woman yell, 'Help'. I looked out my window and I saw this girl and her face was covered in blood."
Mr Bishop said the battered victim, her clothes dishevelled after the attack, was unable to stop cabs travelling past.
Blood stains are still visibile on the footpath where the woman was assaulted. Picture: David Caird
"She was beaten really badly, had a massive swollen eye, she was trying to fight him off," he said.
"I don't know if he ran away because of her screaming or me running over. But I truly believe she was the hero on that night.
"She fought the guy off. She is 100 per cent a brave and courageous girl."
Mr Bishop said it was an all-too-similar situation to the attack that ended Brunswick woman Jill Meagher's life last year.
Police unsuccessfully deployed a flying CyberQuad device in the hunt for clues in a laneway rape case. The version pictured is being used by the MFB. Picture: Herald Sun.
Investigators yesterday were back at the scene, using a floating drone in the hunt for evidence.
The Metropolitan Fire Brigade's Cyber Quad, a remote-controlled flying device, hovered above buildings as police looked for clues on rooftops.
Police said the man, who had stalked the woman for 1km through city streets before launching his attack, had stolen her handbag then fled. A handbag was found on the roof of a nearby business in Gracie St yesterday, but it is not yet known whether it is connected to the sex attack.
Investigators hope any discarded material they can find from the bag could yield a link to the crime.
The man followed the 23-year-old woman for along King St and into Chetwynd St before dragging her into Browns Lane.
MFB and police inspect roof tops near Brown Lane, North Melbourne, for the belongings of a woman who was stalked and raped in the city. Picture: Caird David
Investigators are examining CCTV camera footage from King St in a bid to identify the attacker.
Officers at the scene yesterday took away for questioning a man who had been found in the area.
He was later cleared of any involvement.
The victim had started her walk home north along King St from the intersection of Flinders St after a night out.
She was followed from Latrobe St by the man, who tried to talk to her and, at one stage, attempted to hold her hand.
A man stalked a woman for more than 1km before striking in a North Melbourne laneway. Police established a crime scene in Brown Lane, North Melbourne. Picture: David Caird
After turning into Chetwynd St in North Melbourne, he pounced and dragged the woman into the laneway.
She was punched and kicked in her head and sexually assaulted.
The attacker is described as being of either Asian or Indian appearance, of medium build with short, black cropped hair. He had facial stubble.
The man was wearing a black top, blue jeans and an open leather jacket.
He was last seen running south along Chetwynd St.
Anyone with information is urged to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to visit the website at crimestoppers.com.au
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