Dad pleads guilty to starting brawl that killed coward punch victim

Joseph Hitchcock’s split-second decision to confront strangers hurling abuse began a brawl that would kill Patrick Cronin. Now, Hitchcock has been sentenced for his role in the incident.

When Joseph Hitchcock heard pub-goers shout “f--- off, you fatty” as he exited Diamond Creek’s Windy Mile hotel, he had two choices: keep walking or turn around to face them.

In a decision that will haunt him, he chose the latter.

Hitchcock’s actions to confront the strangers hurling derogatory abuse would lead to the notorious wild brawl outside the country pub, which claimed the life of young footballer Patrick Cronin, on April 16, 2016.

Mr Cronin, 19, had stepped in to help a mate when he was coward punched from another patron, Andrew Lee, who was jailed for eight years for manslaughter.

Hitchcock, now 37, was not charged over Mr Cronin’s death.

He pleaded guilty to affray and criminal damage for smashing the mobile phone of a witness who was filming the brawl.

Slapping him with a $4000 fine in the Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on Monday, magistrate Helen Murphy said the affray was yet another example of alcohol-fuelled violence by a large group of men.

Patrick Cronin was killed in a one-punch attack.

Joseph Hitchcock pleaded guilty to affray.

“This case is the most salutary of lessons as to what can happen when violent aggression overtakes good sense,” Ms Murphy said.

She said Hitchcock’s role in the initial event that lead to the affray “will no doubt haunt him for years to come”.

“I think anyone watching that CCTV can only wish they could travel back to that night and encourage him to keep walking when heckled and to get in a taxi home,” Ms Murphy said.

Hitchcock was leaving to catch a cab home when a group of four men having a cigarette outside the pub made the remarks about his weight about 11pm.

CCTV captured him confronting them, before throwing punches and kicking patrons for up to five minutes as about 30 people became involved.

“The summary and the CCTV detail the evolution of the affray from that first decision to turn and remonstrate rather than walk away,” Ms Murphy said.

CCTV video capturec the fight.

Despite being a remorseful married father with no criminal record, Ms Murphy said she must denounce this type of behaviour and convicted him, meaning his ability to find employment or travel could be restricted in the future.

She said the statement’s earlier read out in court from Patrick’s parents Matt and Robyn Cronin detailed “in stark and deeply emotional terms the effects of this night upon themselves, their families and their friends”.

“They have, in short, lived every parent’s nightmare,” she said.

Ms Murphy also sentenced co-accused Luke Sheahan, 37, who pleaded guilty to affray for what was his “12 seconds” of involvement in the fight.

Sheahan avoided a conviction on a promise to be of good behaviour for 12 months. He must also donate $2000 to the Patrick Cronin Foundation, set up by the Cronin family to raise awareness, education and research about coward punches.