One punch accused George Joseph Habkouk denied bail

A MAN accused of the one punch death of a young father claims the victim had attacked a woman.

A note left at the scene where Haydn Butcher was fatally punched during the early hours of New Year’s Day. Picture: John Grainger

A PIZZA shop owner says he punched a man — who died in hospital a day after the blow — because the victim had earlier “stiff-armed” one of his employees outside a New South Wales pub.

George Joseph Habkouk, 49, appeared in Wyong Local Court on Monday via video link from Cessnock maximum security prison accused of punching Haydn Butcher, 30, in the head outside the Lakes Hotel at The Entrance on the Central Coast about 1am on New Year’s Day.

Mr Butcher fell to the ground after being punched, hit his head on the concrete and lost consciousness.

He was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition but died from his injuries the following day.

Mr Habkouk has been in custody since his arrest on January 1.

When unsuccessfully applying for bail on behalf of his client on Monday, defence barrister John Korn told the court the successful pizza shop owner had been in a relationship for 13 years and “there is nothing to suggest he has a propensity for violence”.

Mr Korn said alcohol had played no part in what happened that night. Mr Habkouk had gone to the pub after closing the pizza shop at 11.30pm before one of his female employees was attacked by another man — not Mr Butcher — the defence barrister said.

Haydn Butcher who died after a one punch attack at The Entrance on New Year’s Day.

Mr Korn said CCTV footage showed Mr Habkouk’s female employee later running down the street outside the pub to confront the man who had assaulted her when Mr Butcher stepped out in front of her and “stiff-armed her with his arm out”.

Police claim Habkouk ran about 20 metres from the pub to punch Mr Butcher. Mr Korn said while what had happened to Mr Butcher was a tragedy, Mr Habkouk had only been trying to defend his female employee when he struck Mr Butcher once.

“He has done nothing more. He hasn’t put the boot in,” Mr Korn said. “It is an unfortunate and totally isolated incident.” Mr Korn said Mr Habkouk became concerned for Mr Butcher after he had fallen to the ground and even tried to help him before being urged to leave the scene in case there were reprisals from Mr Butcher’s group.

Flowers left at the scene where Haydn Butcher was punched by George Habkouk and died outside the lakes hotel at the entrance on the central coast. Picture: John Grainger

It appeared Mr Butcher had been looking to fight someone before stiff-arming the woman, Mr Korn said.

Mr Habkouk’s parents offered to put up their Pennant Hills home as security for their son’s release but bail was today refused.

He is due to reappear in court on March 13.