Andrew Lee pleads guilty to coward punch killing of Patrick Cronin in pub brawl

SUPPORTERS of Patrick Cronin have been left devastated at a decision by the ­Director of Public Prosecutions not to seek the 10-year mandatory minimum jail term for his killer.

SUPPORTERS of Patrick Cronin have been left devastated at a decision by the ­Director of Public Prosecutions not to seek the 10-year mandatory minimum jail term for his killer.

Patrick died from a coward punch during a pub brawl last year. Under legislation introduced to curb one-punch ­attacks, prosecutors could have sought the mandatory term for his killer, Andrew William Lee.

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Prosecutors had filed a ­notice of intention to seek the mandatory minimum term, but revoked it yesterday after Lee pleaded guilty to a single count of manslaughter in the Supreme Court.

The Herald Sun understands he agreed to plead guilty only after a deal struck with prosecutors guaranteed he wouldn’t face the mandatory minimum term.

Patrick’s parents Robyn and Matt leaving court this morning.

Patrick Cronin died when he tried to rescue friends from a brawl.

Laws introduced in 2014 mandated 10-year non-parole periods for anyone guilty of manslaughter by punching or striking someone in the head without warning. But the laws have never been used, sparking criticism from anti-violence campaigners.

“The Office of Public Prosecutions lets victims down. They want it easy, and they’ll say they’re saving us money,” says Caterina Politi, who launched the “STOP. One Punch Can Kill” campaign after her son David Cassai was killed in an attack on New Year’s Eve, 2012.

“The coward punch laws are a joke,” she said.

Lee still faces a maximum of 20 years in jail but yesterday had his bail extended so he could “arrange life before the sentencing hearing”.

Lee had pleaded not guilty to manslaughter before changing his plea three days into his Supreme Court trial.

Patrick’s devastated parents Robyn and Matt now run a foundation in his name. Picture: David Caird

Andrew Lee arriving at court with his wife for a previous hearing.

He attacked Patrick, 19, during a wild brawl at the Windy Mile pub in Diamond Creek on April 16 last year.

Patrick didn’t throw a punch, but was trying to rescue friends from the brawl.

He wasn’t looking when Lee punched the side of his head, causing his fatal injury. He was later taken to hospital and two days later his family made the agonising decision to turn off his life-support system.

Lee had tried to argue that Patrick’s injuries may have been caused by something else, or that there was no evidence to suggest it was his punch.

Patrick’s family established the Pat Cronin Foundation to end coward punch ­attacks through awareness, education and research.

Yesterday they ­remembered him as someone who touched everyone he met.

“There’s plenty of things I’d like to say, but we can’t just yet,” his dad Matt said.

“The one thing I do want to say is we’re all here for Pat. This whole process has been about our son. He’s not here, so we’re here for him.”

Lee will return to court in October.

Patrick Cronin with his brother Lucas who he had played footy with the day he was attacked.