Pair in custody over senseless bashing in Fortitude Valley as teen dies in hospital

LATEST: The dad of Brisbane teen Cole Miller has faced the media after his son died from a coward-punch incident. Charges against two men in relation to it have been upgraded.

COWARD punch victim Cole Miller has died in hospital.

Surrounded by family and friends, Mr Miller’s life support was turned off at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital this afternoon.

The two 21-year-old men charged with grievous bodily harm in relation to his death of have had their charges upgraded.

Armstrong Renata and Daniel Jermaine Lee Maxwell will now face charges of unlawful striking causing death.

They will re-appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court tomorrow.

Water Polo Queensland issued a statement following Miller’s death, saying the organisation was “saddened to learn that Brisbane Barracudas player Cole Miller has passed away following the tragic incident that occurred over the weekend”.

“We would like to express our heartfelt condolences to Cole’s family, friends, Barracudas team mates and the broader Water Polo community who today are mourning the loss of a fine young man and promising water polo player.

Steven Miller, father of 18-year-old Cole Miller, fronts the media following the announcement of his son’s death. With Mr Miller are Cole’s uncle and aunt Michael and Allison Miller.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Miller family and we respect the family’s privacy during this time of grief.”

EARLIER: The second man accused of “throwing a punch” at teen Cole Miller, a 21-year-old Logan roofer, has been refused bail by a Magistrate.

New Zealander Daniel Jermaine Lee Maxwell from Tanah Merah appeared in court just after midday following his arrest last night on a charge of grievous bodily harm.

Cole Miller was felled in an apparently unprovoked attack. Picture: Facebook

His legal aid lawyer Tim Clements told Brisbane Magistrates Court that Maxwell was alleged to have approached Miller and his friend in Fortitude Valley early on Sunday morning.

Mr Clements said police alleged Mr Maxwell had asked Miller and his friend “if they wanted to fight”.

“He is alleged to have thrown a punch at each of them”, Mr Clements told Magistrate Terry Gardiner.

Police did not reveal whether they were alleging Maxwell’s punches had connected with Miller or his friend, Mr Clements said.

Mr Clements told the court that police had not revealed the area of Millers body alleged to have been punched by Maxwell.

“It’s alleged his coaccused has come from behind or the side and that is the punch which has led to (Miller) falling to the ground,” Mr Clements said.

Maxwell’s coaccused 21 year old Armstrong Renata also appeared in court but did not apply for bail.

Both men are due back in court on February 8.

Maxwell moved to Logan from Melbourne three months ago and is living with his cousin and uncle.

His parents live in Auckland, the court was told.

Police at the Fortitude Valley Chinatown Mall crime scene. Picture: Tara Croser

EARLIER: A MAN has faced court over a one-punch assault that has left a Brisbane teenager fighting for his life.

Armstrong Renata, 21, appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court this morning charged with the grievous bodily harm of water polo player Cole Miller.

Renata did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody until the next mention of his case on February 8.

His lawyer, Mitch Cunningham, said Mr Renata was “very upset”.

Mr Cunningham said there would be a future bail bid.

Mr Miller was allegedly struck once in the back of the head in a random act of violence in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley early Sunday morning.

He had been walking through the Chinatown Mall with a friend when they were approached by four men, according to police.

Another 21-year-old man has also been charged with grievous bodily harm.

He’s due to appear in court later today.

Mr Miller was taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital with life-threatening head injuries.

He has represented Queensland in under-20s water polo, and is a member of the Brisbane Barracudas Water Polo Club.

He is the younger brother of Australian water polo player and Olympian Billy Miller.

OVERNIGHT: BRISBANE teenager Cole Miller was last night clinging to life as police laid charges against two men over the seemingly unprovoked one-punch attack on him.

Miller’s traumatised family kept vigil at the 18-year-old’s bedside at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital as police sought more CCTV footage of the horrific incident. The Highgate Hill teen was walking with a friend through Chinatown Mall in Fortitude Valley about 3.30am yesterday when he was approached by a group of four men, police said.

After a “short exchange” of words, Miller was struck in the back of the head by one man. He fell forward and struck his head on the concrete paving.

Cole Miller last night remained in a critical condition.

Two men, a 21-year-old and a 22-year-old, one from Coombabah and the other from Tanah Merah, were last night in police custody charged with one count each of assault causing grievous bodily harm. They are expected to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court today.

Officer in charge of the investigation Detective Acting Inspector Tom Armitt said investigators were trying to find a motive for the attack and were scouring CCTV footage of the area to trace the movements of the victim and his alleged ­attackers.

“This is a random act of violence — there is no indication that the victim knew who the offenders were,” he said but did not rule out that the two may have crossed paths in a nightclub earlier in the night.

The talented young water polo player had reportedly called it a night and was about to hail a taxi and go home when he was allegedly struck from behind.

Acting Health Minister Dr Anthony Lynham yesterday said the tragic set of circumstances spoke for itself.

Officer in charge of the investigation Detective Acting Inspector Tom Armitt said investigators were trying to find a motive for the attack. Picture: Renae Droop

“There really is no need for me to comment — it’s exactly what I’ve been saying for years,” he said. “I just feel so sorry for the two families involved.”

Dr Lynham said the constant stream of violence-related injuries was “exasperating”.

The “one punch can kill” campaign was launched after the king-hit death of 15-year-old Matthew Stanley in 2006. His 16-year-old killer served two and a half years jail for manslaughter.

In June last year Lindsay Ede, 56, died after he was hit in the head at Goodna. A 19-year-old is awaiting trial on a charge of unlawful striking causing death, also known as the coward’s punch law, which carries a possible life sentence.