Reece Watherston, acquitted of manslaughter over 2017 death of Jack Hanley, accused of property damage and lying to police

He threw a single punch that caused a fatality, but left court a free man – now Reece Watherston is back in the dock, charged with lying to police.

Reece Watherston, centre, arrives at court flanked by his legal team. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe.

The man who threw the punch that led to the death of Jack Hanley – but was acquitted of manslaughter – has faced court again, accused of property damage and lying to police.

Flanked by his legal team, Reece Watherston appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with two separate sets of offending.

It is the first time Watherston has been in court since his July 2019 acquittal – but not the first time he has been scheduled to appear.

On two occasions in 2020, Watherston was supposed to face the Christies Beach Magistrates Court over some of the new charges.

One of those hearings was postponed due to COVID-19 while the other was “administratively adjourned” at the request of his lawyers – Watherston did not attend court either time.

Watherston following his manslaughter acquittal. Picture: AAP/Sam Wundke.

Watherston, 23, of Kingswood, has yet to plead to two counts of property damage and one count of stating false personal details.

SA Police allege that, on 28 June 2020, he caused up to $2500 damage to a building in Darlington.

They further allege that, on 14 November 2020, he caused the same amount of damage to another property at Glenelg.

Police also allege that, on that second occasion, Watherston provided false personal details to officers investigating the incident.

During Watherston’s manslaughter trial, prosecutors alleged he struck Mr Hanley “with all possible force” after their friends clashed on Hindley St in December 2017.

They alleged Mr Hanley had taken no aggressive action toward Watherston and was actively trying to get away from the brawl when he was punched.

Jack Hanley died on Hindley St in 2017. Picture: Supplied by Mr Hanley’s family.

The sound of Mr Hanley falling to the ground was so loud, they alleged, it could be heard across the Morphett St intersection.

Watherston insisted he “feared” for his life when “confronted” by Mr Hanley and had acted in self-defence.

In its verdict, the Supreme Court said there was “no dispute” Watherston’s punch caused Mr Hanley to fall and die.

However, the court said prosecutors had failed to disprove Watherston’s claim of self-defence and that he had “fought back because he believed he had to”.

The verdict devastated Mr Hanley’s family, and prosecutors opted not to file an appeal.

On Thursday, Tom Cuthbertson, for Watherston, said his client would fight the new charges.

“The earlier-in-time charges, that’s definitely disputed … the second file, that’s definitely disputed,” he said.

Magistrate Simon Smart remanded Watherston on continuing bail until March.