Push to refer to king hit attacks as 'coward punches' after teen left in coma

Updated

The New South Wales government has backed calls for king hit attacks to instead be referred to as "coward punches".

It comes after the family of Daniel Christie released a statement expressing gratitude for the support of doctors, police and the general public.

The 18-year-old is in a critical condition in St Vincent's Hospital after being assaulted in Kings Cross on New Year's Eve.

Builder Shaun McNeil, 25, has been charged with maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm over the attack and remains behind bars.

McNeil also faces charges over attacks on four other people on the same night.

"We don't agree with the popular term king hit," the family statement reads.

"We have heard it referred to as a 'coward punch', which seems to be more appropriate.

Sorry, this video has expired Video: Calls for action after latest violent attack (7pm TV News NSW)

"We have all been affected so much by this tragedy and our clear focus remains with our son and brother through this difficult time."

State Police Minister Mike Gallacher says he agrees about the use of the term "coward punch".

"The only people that wouldn't embrace this would be cowards that would punch people indiscriminately in such a way," he said.

"The entire community has got to do this.

"This has got to be called for what it is.

"It's a coward, gutless punch, and that's exactly what it's got to be called from this moment on."

Mr Gallacher says it could help embarrass and shame attackers.

"As long as they are shamed when they hit somebody, irrespective of whether they cause significant damage as they've done with Daniel and they've done with others, or indeed just indiscriminately hitting people on the side of the road, this will be something that I think will remain with them for the rest of their lives," he said.

As the pressure ramps up to introduce tougher alcohol licensing regulations, a leading advocate for alcohol reform has accused New South Wales Premier Barry O'Farrell of bowing to pressure from the Australian Hotels Association.

The president of the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation, Dr Alex Wodak, says the government has found excuses not to extend Newcastle's measures to curb alcohol violence to Sydney.

No shots are served in Newcastle after 10:00pm, no patrons are allowed into a venue after 1:00am, and no alcohol can be sold after 3:00am.

Dr Wodak says the Premier had promised to introduce strong measures to curb alcohol-related violence when he was in Opposition.

"I really find it offensive that the Premier of this state is singing from the Australian Hotels Association's song sheet," he said.

"All I want Barry O'Farrell to do is stick to the promises that he made when he was the leader of then opposition in 2008, when he called for exactly the sorts of things that everybody is calling for now."

Dr Wodak says measures by the Government do not go far enough.

"They're sound bites that sound good, that have no doubt been focus-tested by the AHA," he said.

Sorry, this video has expired Video: Call to end alcohol ads during live sports broadcasts (7pm TV News VIC)

"Let's come up with policies that have been tried in several parts of the world and that have really worked."

Mr Gallacher says there is no evidence to suggest that its efforts to combat alcohol-fuelled violence are being influenced by the Australian Hotels Association.

He says the initiatives being rolled out in Kings Cross have reduced assaults in licensed premises.

"One-third reduction in relation to what we've done in the Cross," he said.

"Do you know that those figures are actually better than what is occurring in Newcastle?

"The Cross assault figures are actually better than Newcastle, because we've taken a different approach in relation to a much bigger area and a completely different city."

Thomas Kelly family steps up campaign

Thomas Kelly was fatally punched in almost the same spot in 2012.

The 18-year-old's family has now stepped up their campaign for law reform in the wake of the attack on Mr Christie.

More than 23,000 people have signed the Kelly's petition for tougher minimum sentences for manslaughter.

Ralph and Kathy Kelly have expanded the petition to include a call for courts to consider drunkenness as an aggravating factor in crimes, not an excuse.

It is part of a broader campaign by the Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation, which is calling for stronger liquor licensing laws, education campaigns and cultural change.

Late last year, Keiran Loveridge was sentenced to four years jail for killing Thomas Kelly.

Topics: assault, alcohol, kings-cross-2011, potts-point-2011, sydney-2000

First posted