One-punch killer gets 7 1/2 years jail sentence

One-punch killer Shaun McNeil has received a seven and a half year jail sentence for killing Sydney teenager Daniel Christie.

Daniel Christie died in 2014, 11 days after he copped a single, unprovoked punch to the head whilst he was at a King's Cross New Year's Eve party.

Do you think this sentence is fair, considering McNeil was, as Justice Robert Allan Hulme stated during sentencing, "addled by alcohol"? Do you think McNeil being so drunk is even an excuse? Do you feel that this type of sentencing is harsh enough to make 'king-hitters' rethink their next punch?

2 comments

It should be "an eye for an eye" ....Why should the taxpayer have to keep them for seven and half years ?

It is rarely the punch that kills the victim - they are rendered instantly unconscious and its the fall and striking the head on concrete or some hard surface that does the real damage. Often the perpetrator suffers some minor bump, slight or offence and their reaction is prompted by anger and is way out of proportion. Drugs, alcohol etc ought not be considered as an excuse or in any way mitigation of the crime.

Bearing this in mind, on the one hand, I have some small sympathy for someone who might react out of character when they are not normally violent people. On the other hand, their actions have taken a life or caused permanent brain damage and the punishment should fit the crime. Seven and a half years seems a small price to pay for a life taken or ruined and is not much of a deterrant for this type of crime.

2 comments



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