A TEENAGE girl is set to stand trial next year over the savage bashing of an 88-year-old market gardener in his Werribee driveway.

A committal hearing was held at the Werribee Magistrates’ Court last Tuesday.

Rose Talisa from Hoppers Crossing pleaded not guilty to three charges, including recklessly causing serious injury.

The 19-year-old was flanked by family and friends but showed little emotion during the five-hour long hearing.

The court heard Ms Talisa was taking the fall for a friend and was prepared to go to jail for the crime.

“We always say we have each other’s back and if anything happens, take the blame,” she told police in a recorded interview.

But Senior Constable Jodi Greaves confirmed the man named was not a person of interest.

She said the investigations were ongoing and no-one else had been charged.

Dick Edwards was brutally assaulted at his Duncans Rd home on 19 May at about 6.30am.

It was his normal routine leaving in the early hours of the morning seven days a week for work on his farm in Lara.

Ms Talisa was part of the alleged gang of up to seven who were involved in the attack.

He was struck to the head before having his wallet with $3000 cash inside and mobile phone stolen.

Police believe he was attacked with baseball bats and knuckledusters after Ms Talisa grabbed him by the neck and dragged him down to the ground.

Mr Edwards crawled back into his home leaving a trail of blood to call for help.

He endured blunt trauma to the head and has spent months undergoing rehabilitation.

Ms Talisa had made a confession to the assault and robbery but later recanted the statement.

A World War II veteran, the victim has been excused from giving evidence due to the assault bringing back memories of war.

“My recollection is mixed up with memories from the war,” he told police.

“When I think about it I see Japanese.”

Mr Edwards also revealed in the statement that he could not recall the attacker’s appearance.

“I remember one of them just banging and banging. He was crazy,” he said

“I was pulling and pushing them but I couldn’t do anything. I was out of it.

“They would be lucky to be mid-twenties.

“I was lying on the ground face down.”

The court heard Ms Talisa had been targeted since the attack by alleged threatening text messages and a website, and confrontations in shopping complexes. Graffiti had been sprayed across her house and she was no longer able to attend school.

She will appear at the County Court for a conference case on 18 February.