Family of Patrick Cronin suing coward-punch killer Andrew William Lee
THE family of teen Patrick Cronin who was tragically killed in a wild pub brawl are suing his killer Andrew William Lee for compensation.
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THE family of teen Patrick Cronin who was tragically killed in a wild pub brawl are suing his killer Andrew William Lee for compensation.
Lee, 35, received just a five year minimum parole period after a decision by prosecutors meant he avoided a 10 year minimum mandatory term under laws introduced in 2014 to curb a spate of fatal one-punch attacks.
Patrick, 19, was killed during a night out with friends at the Windy Mile pub in Diamond Creek on April 16, 2016.
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The Supreme Court today heard the matter will go to mediation later this year.
The details of what is claimed in the writ lodged on behalf of his grieving father Matt and other family members is not known.
In the criminal case against Lee the court heard his victim didn’t throw a single punch himself but was trying to drag his friends to safety after a wild brawl erupted.
He was punched in the head by Lee, a martial arts student, who attacked several people in quick succession.
CCTV footage showed Patrick run in to the fray to pull a friend to safety, get hit, then run in and help another friend.
Patrick returned to a friend’s house Patrick where he complained of feeling unwell and took some Panadol. He later asked his mum to pick him up, and when she arrived 10 minutes later he was unable to speak.
He was rushed to hospital where doctors discovered a skull fracture and was pronounced dead the following day.
Lee would have been the first person to be tried under the new laws which mandated 10-year non-parole periods for anyone guilty of manslaughter by a single blow, but in a last minute deal that left the Cronin family shattered, prosecutors downgraded the murder charge to manslaughter in exchange for Lee’s guilty plea.
In sentencing Lee a maximum eight years, Justice Lasry said he could not find beyond reasonable doubt that the fatal blow was intended to hit Patrick.
“On any view you acted violently and that violent act had dreadful consequences,” he said.
Justice Lasry found Lee’s prospects of rehabilitation were good and was satisfied he was genuinely remorseful.
Father Matt Cronin said at the time of the sentence that the new laws should have applied.
Mr Cronin said their son died doing what they taught him — to look after his mates.
“In April 2016, Pat was given a life sentence. We were given a life sentence. Everyone who knew him was given a life sentence.
“What Andrew Lee needs to live with is the fact that he killed Pat and he has to live with that for the rest of his life.
“That’s his life sentence and that is going to extend way beyond the time that he spends in jail.”
The Cronin family have started a foundation in honour of Pat to end the coward punch.
With time already served Lee could walk free in three years.