Accused Crown casino food fight killer banned from attending licensed premises without wife

A man allegedly killed in a fight in the Crown Casino food court has been remembered for his “special smile”, as his accused attacker fronted court for the first time.

A man was killed during a food fight at a food court in Crown casino.

A man allegedly killed in a fight in the Crown Casino food court has been remembered for his “special smile”, as his accused attacker fronted court for the first time.

Luke Anthony Francis, 29, from Mentone, had the ability to make people laugh and lit up every room he entered, his family and friends have detailed.

But that was taken away from him when he was allegedly struck in a deadly melee at the Southbank entertainment venue about 12.20am on March 27.

He was rushed to The Alfred hospital where he died two days later.

His grief-stricken sister Emily paid tribute to her older brother, who she called her “inspiration”, “protector” and “best friend”.

She said he was always the first person she would call with good or bad news; and that her life would never be the same without him.

“Without a doubt you’re the quickest and only reason I’d have a smile on my face,” she wrote in an online tribute.

Luke Francis has been remembered as a “inspiration”.

“Lukey I don’t know how but you had this way of lifting me up whenever I was down.

“I know 100% beyond words that I will never ever be a complete person without you.

“I miss you beyond words and I love you more than life itself always.”

It comes as the man police allege is responsible for Mr Francis’s death fronted Melbourne Magistrates Court for the first time on Wednesday charged with manslaughter.

Tyson Armstrong, 26, from Highton, was initially charged with recklessly causing injury, but when Mr Francis died, police launched a homicide investigation.

Tyson Armstrong is accused of killing Luke Francis in a fight in the Crown Casino food court on March 29, 2022.

On August 25, a more serious charge of manslaughter was laid against him.

The court heard the father of three was on bail, but had been banned from attending venues where booze is served - unless accompanied by his wife.

He had initially been restricted from attending, or going within 5m of, any licensed premises.

But that was amended in court to say that he could not attend any licensed premises or place “where the sale of alcohol is for consumption on the premises, unless in the company of his wife”.

His lawyer Ruth Parker said the change was required because the way it was originally worded meant that Mr Armstrong could not attend Coles or Woolworths where alcohol was sold.

“It simply allows my client to shop at Aldi without breaching bail conditions, and if he was to go to a restaurant with his wife,” Ms Parker said.

Mr Armstrong, an avid Collingwood fan whose social media account features photos of him with Pies captain Scott Pendlebury and midfielder Jordan De Goey, will return to court in November.

A third man - a 29-year-old Colac man believed to be a friend of Mr Armstrong’s - was also arrested over the fight but was released pending further enquiries.