McCormack family seek help finding son Shannon's killer
AN anonymous caller to Crime Stoppers could hold the key to solving the death of a peacemaker king-hit outside a city nightclub while breaking up a fight.
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AN anonymous caller to Crime Stoppers could hold the key to solving the death of a peacemaker king-hit outside a city nightclub while breaking up a fight.
Shannon McCormack, 22, was stepping in to stop a fight involving one of his friends outside QBH nightclub on May 27 last year when he was struck from behind by an unknown attacker.
The punch knocked him to the ground and caused him to hit his head on the footpath.
Despite returning home that morning, Mr McCormack was later taken to hospital and died almost a week later from his injuries.
As leads began to dry up, police got a crucial Crime Stoppers call with information on Mr McCormack's attacker.
"The caller has said, 'I know the identity of the person who's thrown the punch and I know the identity of people who were there with him'," Det-Sgt Wayne Woltsche said.
Despite the claims, the caller did not pass on any names to police
"It might be a testing the waters-type phone call . . . it may be that nine months down the track this person has decided, 'I can't handle this any more'."
Mr McCormack's shattered parents, Bill and Cheryl, appealed for the mystery caller to end their pain and reveal to police what they knew about Shannon's death.
"We'd really love to have some closure. It would be great if the person who called could come forward, just for us to know what actually happened on the night," Ms McCormack said.
"If they had a conscience they would have to be (haunted), they would have to be reminded about it every day in some way."
Mr McCormack described the nine months since his son's death as "purgatory", adding that little had been done since his son's death to curb alcohol-related violence in the city.
"Another hundred families are in hospital visiting their kids who got belted up last night. It happens every week, it's been going on for nine months and nothing at all," he said.
"A lot of the younger ones can't afford the $8 drinks in nightclubs, so they get hammered before they come in on the train.
"It's a whole of community problem. There needs to be a lot more done."
Ms McCormack said she relived the tragedy of her son's death every time another of her children left for a night out in the city.
"It's not safe in Melbourne any more. You can't stop children from going out . . but it's just so violent in the city at the moment."
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.