Man who tried to break up fight killed by ‘mindless aggression’

An innocent man who tried to break up a fight at a party died after an unwanted guest who was on a suspended jail sentence punched him, a court has heard.

Charles Alum pleaded guilty to engaging in a violent act that caused death.

An innocent man who tried to break up a fight at a social gathering was killed by an unwanted guest who delivered a fatal coward punch in Tennant Creek, a court has heard.

The victim was discharged after spending a night in hospital and was told to take Panadol but he died a week later from traumatic head injuries.

Charles Alum last week pleaded guilty to engaging in a violent act that caused death after he drunkenly killed an innocent man with one punch.

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Crown prosecutor Stephen Robson said Alum was on a suspended jail sentence when he attacked the man, who was only trying to break up a fight.

“The community has had enough. They are sick of seeing innocent people being killed as a result of this kind of alcohol-fuelled violence,” he said.

After spending the day drinking in Tennant Creek, Alum went to a social gathering with his cousin and became involved in a heated argument.

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Alum was told to leave and tried to punch his cousin. The victim walked to Alum and tried to calm him down but he was challenged to fight.

The victim put his hands up and tried to tell Alum to stop but he was punched to the ground and cracked his skull.

“The victim suffered swelling of the brain … and damage to parts which controlled breathing and blood circulation,” Mr Robson said.

The victim was discharged after spending a night in the Tennant Creek Hospital.

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Family members took the victim back to hospital and it was revealed that he had a fractured skull and bleeding.

While the victim was hospitalised, Alum boasted to a friend over text message that he “knocked the c**t out.”

Defence lawyer Tania Collins said the matter was made more “complicated” because of the time between the punch and the victim’s death.

“My client was originally given a fine for fighting by the police and then was released from custody,” she said.

“[The victim] was basically told to go away with Panadol. A number of days later … he’s died from this injury.”

Judge Anthony Graham said it was an example of “mindless aggression”.

Alum, who has been held in custody since February last year, will reappear in court next month.