Following the tragic deaths of Daniel Christie and Thomas Kelly in King’s Cross, New South Wales introduced a raft of new laws to combat alcohol-fueled violence, including mandatory minimum sentences for a number of different types of assault.
The Australian report that Victoria is now following suit. The state is set to introduce a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years for people who kill with a single blow in so-called ‘coward punch’ attacks.
22-year-old Victorian man David Cassai was killed with a blow in the town of Rye on New Year’s Eve 2012, and premier Denis Napthine spoke privately to Cassai’s mother before the introduction of the new laws.
CCTV of moment Dylan Closter allegedly delivered fatal punch to David Cassai. Court reporter @KarenHuf in #9NEWSat6 pic.twitter.com/2GbZg5IRuj
— Nine News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) August 5, 2013
“This is about sending a clear message that one punch can kill,” he said of the tougher penalties, which he hopes will act as a deterrent to potential violent attackers. “People should step back and think before they throw a punch.”
In addition to one-punch killers, The Australian report that Victoria’s new laws will also give mandatory 10-year jail terms to anyone convicted of manslaughter in a gang attack.
Photo: Mark Dadswell via Getty Images
