A “career criminal” allegedly left a passer-by fighting for his life after flooring him and repeatedly jumping on his head “for no reason”.
Shocking footage filmed from a parked car shows Said Leksili repeatedly punching Arturo C. G. in the head as he lay on the street.
Several bystanders could be seen trying, with varying degrees of determination, to pull the attacker away.
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But while Arturo was on the ground, Leksili, 26, repeatedly stamped on his face and head, leaving him motionless before turning on one of the men who tried to intervene.
The brutal attack happened in Valencia, Spain, at around 8.30pm on Friday (24 July).
Arturo, 47, was left in a coma and is now fighting for his life in intensive care after suffering severe and potentially irreversible brain injuries.
He also sustained serious chest injuries, multiple broken ribs and fractures to his nose, as reported by Need To Know.
Doctors are waiting to see whether his condition improves enough for him to undergo life-saving surgery.
Leksili had never met Arturo, who was simply walking through the area. Investigators say the attack was sudden and entirely unprovoked.
The suspect, an Algerian national allegedly living in Spain illegally, was arrested at the scene.
During a court hearing, at which he answered only his lawyer’s questions, he told the judge he had “drunk a lot” that afternoon and “didn’t remember anything” that had happened.
Some local media have suggested the claim could be an attempt to use intoxication as a mitigating factor in any future trial.
Investigators believe he took advantage of the fact that Arturo had one arm in a cast and was unable to defend himself.
Arturo was also reportedly awaiting a kidney and pancreas transplant because of pre-existing medical conditions.
Leksili is said to have entered Spain illegally in 2020 and has an extensive criminal record.
He has reportedly been arrested 18 times, including three times for assault and three times for violent robbery in Valencia over the past three years.
He was also the subject of 10 outstanding judicial warrants or court notices linked to other cases.
Leksili, who reportedly had no fixed address and was living in a makeshift shack, is also accused of using two different identities to evade police and judicial proceedings.
He has been remanded in custody and remains under investigation for attempted homicide or attempted murder, with the final charge depending on the outcome of the investigation and the victim’s condition.
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