THE Tamworth man accused of king-hitting another local and leaving him fighting for survival has been released on bail.
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Jack Stevenson, 20, sat stoney-faced in Tamworth Local Court yesterday morning as prosecutors fought to have him kept behind bars following the Friday night assault.
The alleged incident comes amid furious public debate about sentencing for “one-punch” attacks and renewed calls for tighter security in Tamworth hotels.
Stevenson, charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, is accused of chasing 37-year-old Curtis Ay Shay out of the Court House Hotel before king-hitting him in the face just metres away in Peel St.
Police say the force of the blow caused the victim to fall and hit his head on the pavement, knocking him unconscious immediately.
According to police facts, Stevenson left the scene before police and Ambulance paramedics arrived.
Police prosecutor Rob Baillie told the court the prospects of the victim surviving the attack were grim.
“The indication is he’s not expected to live,” he said.
“It was an unprovoked attack on a very vulnerable man.”
Mr Baillie said police had obtained video evidence from nearby CCTV cameras.
“This is not the back streets of Kings Cross ... this is not the back streets of Tamworth ... this is the main street of Tamworth,” he told the court.
“This type of crime is outrageous.
“The community has a right to go about their business.”
Police confirmed yesterday afternoon the man had undergone emergency surgery and was still in a critical condition on life support in John Hunter Hospital.
It’s believed the victim’s family travelled to Newcastle to be by his bedside yesterday.
During yesterday’s court proceedings, elements of the fatal king hit attack on Thomas Kelly in July last year in Kings Cross were raised.
However, solicitor for the accused, Fiona Hadlington, said in making a fresh bail application, this case couldn’t be compared.
“Your honour can’t get caught up in the emotions of a like matter,” she told the court.
“This is not about what the community wants, or what the media wants, it’s about the law.”
Ms Hadlington said there was a presumption of bail for the accused.
“This is a one punch scenario,” she said.
“He voluntarily attended the police station with the clothes he had on that night.”
Magistrate Mal Macpherson told Stevenson, who was supported in court by his girlfriend and mother, “these are serious matters ... that may change in the future.”
He granted the 20-year-old strict conditional bail with Stevenson to post $5000 surety, not to consume alcohol, not to enter a licensed premises and report daily to police.
The case has been adjourned to December 11.
A spokesperson for The Court House Hotel said “staff had fully cooperated with the investigation and are assisting police as required.”
“Neither of them were intoxicated and the incident didn’t occur in the hotel, it was down the street,” the spokesperson said.