Shannon McCormack’s dad makes last-ditch bid to catch son’s one-punch killer

A father is making a last-ditch bid to bring a killer to justice more than a decade after his son died after an “unprovoked” attack outside a Southbank nightclub.

A last-ditch bid to bring a one-punch killer to justice has begun more than a decade after an “unprovoked” attack outside a city nightclub claimed the life of 22-year-old Shannon McCormack.

The Eltham man was struck in the head outside the Queen’s Bridge Hotel in Southbank about 4am on Sunday, May 27 in 2007 and died in hospital days later.

There is still a $1m reward in place for information that leads to a conviction.

His father, William McCormack, fronted the Coroner’s Court on Friday where he stated he planned to request the investigation into further DNA testing be reopened 16 years on.

Mr McCormack stated there had been significant advancements in DNA testing technology since his son’s death, with his family needing closure as they have experienced several “distressing” events in recent years.

Mr McCormack, who told the court he was experiencing ill-health, believes investigators may be able to catch his son’s killer as other states, such as NSW and Queensland, have solved cases using enhanced DNA technology.

Eltham man Shannon McCormack was killed in a one-punch attack in Southbank in 2007. Picture: Victoria Police

To this day, DNA results have provided little to no evidence of Shannon’s killer.

Victoria Police’s senior forensic scientist Jenelle Heffernan told the court there would likely be better DNA testing technology available in the state within the next six months, leading to Mr McCormack’s decision to delay his application.

Detective Sergeant Scott Jones told the court the case was “most definitely a live investigation” but said there were also limited resources available.

The directions hearing comes 16 years after Shannon McCormack attempted to break up an altercation between his mate, Michael Novak, and another group of males by standing in between them.

Shannon was then struck in the head by an unknown assailant.

The then 22-year-old fell to the floor, already unconscious, hitting his head on a concrete wall and then the footpath before regaining consciousness.

He was assessed at the hotel’s medical room and declined offers of being taken to hospital in an ambulance.

He was driven to his Eltham home in a taxi with Mr Novak and two female friends, before his condition deteriorated in the following hours.

His parents rushed him to the Austin Hospital before undergoing several operations.

He died in hospital on Sunday, June 3.

No one has been arrested or charged over the death and a $1m reward for information leading to a conviction still remains.

Victoria Police have examined thousands of hours of CCTV footage from in and around the hotel, which was converted into a nightclub in the 90s.

Detectives have interviewed a large number of witnesses, hotel staff and patrons to no avail.

Mr McCormack plans to apply for the case to be reopened in six months’ time.