Dads unite as killers of Patrick Cronin and Jaiden Walker appeal

THE fathers of two young one-punch victims have joined forces to campaign for tougher sentences after their sons’ killers both launched appeals against their eight-year jail terms.

THE fathers of two young one-punch victims have joined forces to campaign for tougher sentences after their sons’ killers both launched appeals.

Matt Cronin and Jon Walker each lost a son, Patrick and Jaiden, to senseless coward punch attacks.

Their sons’ killers, Andrew Lee and Richard Vincec, were each jailed last month for identical eight-year terms, with five-year non-parole periods, after pleading guilty to single counts of manslaughter over the deaths.

Lee killed Patrick, 19, during a pub brawl in April last year, while Vincec killed 22-year-old Jaiden after he refused to shake his hand during a night out with friends in May.

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Robyn and Matt Cronin outside court after the sentence of their son’s killer last month.

They have now both launched appeals complaining that the sentences were manifestly excessive.

But both Mr Cronin and Mr Walker believe the sentences weren’t tough enough and want the Court of Appeal to send a strong message when dealing with the appeals.

They say the appeals, expected to be heard in the first half of next year, are a prime opportunity for the Court of Appeal to give the green light to judges to increase jail terms in similar cases.

The court has previously encouraged tougher sentences in other areas, including for perpetrators of domestic violence, saying the general deterrence of tough sentences was of “great importance”.

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Pat Cronin was a promising footballer.

Jaiden Walker after his fatal attack.

“Hopefully they can do the same here,” Mr Cronin said.

“We need to get a united message out there, and the view is that between the two of us, we can do that.

“Sadly John and I have got a connection that we shouldn’t have, but hopefully together we can bring about some change.”

Mr Cronin said he was flooded with community support after Patrick’s killer was jailed.

“The overwhelming feeling was it just wasn’t long enough,” he said.

Mr Cronin and his wife Robyn have written to the Director of Public Prosecutions asking that he lodge a cross-appeal on the basis the sentence was manifestly inadequate.

Jaiden Walker’s parents Jon and Heidi. Picture: Tony Gough

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“The community outrage that has been shared with us since the sentence was handed down clearly shows that Victorians expect higher sentences and it is time for you, as the Director of Public Prosecutions, to take this case to the court of appeal to demand a higher sentence,”

the Cronins wrote.

“Community standards and expectations have changed and other recent cases (such as the Jaiden Walker case) show that judges are simply handing out the same lenient sentence for similar crimes.

“Now is the time for you to take action,” they wrote.

Both the Cronins and Walkers have met with Office of Public Prosecutions representatives about the appeals.

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