Mathew Paul Hawkins, 29, pleads guilty to manslaughter after death of Luke Sweetman, 35

A 29-year-old Exeter man has pleaded guilty to killing an innocent 35-year-old man with a fatal punch to the head outside a Taperoo pub last month.

The Peninsula Hotel Motel on Victoria Rd, Taperoo where Luke Sweetman was killed by Mathew Hawkins last month.

An Exeter man has pleaded guilty to killing 35-year-old Luke Sweetman with a punch to the head outside a Taperoo pub in August.

Mathew Paul Hawkins, 29, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday in front of Magistrate Lynette Duncan charged with one count of manslaughter.

Ben Thilthorpe, for Hawkins, told the court his client would be entering a plea.

The charge against Hawkins, whose identity was initially suppressed, were upgraded after Mr Sweetman, from Panorama, died in hospital last month.

Emergency services at the scene after Luke Sweetman was punched. Picture: 7NEWS

Pictures from the scene of where Mr Sweetman was killed. Picture: 7NEWS

Emergency services were called to the Peninsula Hotel Motel after receiving reports of a physical altercation between two men just after midnight on August 10.

Police said the victim was punched to the head and rushed to hospital, where he succumbed to his life-threatening injuries on August 23.

Detectives from Western District and Crime Scene Investigators attended the scene, and following investigations, arrested Hawkins.

Last month, Mr Sweetman’s sister Laura watched in silence in court as the suppression on Hawkins’ identity was lifted.

Laura Sweetman leaves court in August. Picture Dean Martin

Luke Sweetman, pictured with his sister Laura, died in hospital after being punched at Taperoo just after midnight on Saturday August 10. Picture: Supplied

His identity was initially suppressed at his first appearance after the prosecution said there were still “a number of witnesses” yet to be interviewed, and publication of his identity “could potentially prejudice any identification made by those witnesses”.

However Magistrate Brian Nitschke lifted the order after prosecution submitted its requirements had “been met”.

“We no longer require it,” the prosecution said.

“All right, well I revoke that suppression order,” Mr Nitschke said. “Thank you, Mr Hawkins.”

Hawkins will be arraigned in the Supreme Court in November.

Originally published as Mathew Paul Hawkins, 29, pleads guilty to manslaughter after death of Luke Sweetman, 35