Jack Hanley taunted by Reece Watherston after alleged fatal punch, court told

As Jack Hanley lay dying and convulsing on the ground in Hindley St, his alleged attacker taunted him, calling him a “little bitch”, a court has heard.

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Jack Hanley was taunted — possibly by the man who killed him — for being unable to “take a punch” as he lay convulsing and dying on a city street, a court has heard.

On Tuesday, an eyewitness to Mr Hanley’s death told the Supreme Court he believed Reece Watherston had hurled abuse after throwing the fatal punch.

Reece Watherston. Picture: AAP/ Keryn Stevens

Jack Hanley

Christopher Jones said he arrived after a scuffle, between Mr Hanley’s and Watherston’s respective groups, had broken out on Hindley St, and did not see the punch.

“(Mr Hanley) fell like a tree cut at the base, quite stiff … (Watherston) began taunting him, yelling at him, that he wasn’t able to take a hit, that he was a ‘bitch’,” he said.

“He made those comments as (Mr Hanley) was convulsing on the ground … he wasn’t concerned.

“He called him a ‘little bitch shaking on the ground who can’t take a hit’, then he left the scene.”

Watherston, 21, has pleaded not guilty to one count of manslaughter.

Prosecutors allege he struck Mr Hanley after their respective groups of friends had scuffled on the corner of Hindley and Morphett streets, even though Mr Hanley did not take part in the aggression.

The court has heard all the men involved in the events had taken drugs including MDMA, cannabis and “nossies”, or inhaling small canisters of nitrous oxide.

Giving evidence on Tuesday, Mr Jones said he and a female friend had happened across a “two on four” fight after his work shift, with Mr Hanley being “one of the two”.

“I didn’t see the punch that was made, but I did see the gentleman (Mr Hanley) fall,” he said.

In cross-examination, counsel for Watherston suggested Mr Jones’ description of participants did not match CCTV and mobile phone footage of the incident.

Jack Hanley’s mother Julie Kelbin outside court last week. Picture: AAP / Keryn Stevens

They also suggested it was not their client, but one of his friends, who had taunted Mr Hanley.

“It was definitely someone within the direct vicinity of the deceased, while he was on the ground,” he said.

“To say it could’ve been another person in that area, I can’t rule it out.”

The trial, before Justice Anne Bampton and in the absence of a jury, continues.