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DPP to look at murder charges for McNeil

The NSW DPP has been asked by the attorney-general to determine whether murder charges should be laid against an alleged king hit killer.

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Source: AAP


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The NSW attorney-general has asked authorities to assess whether murder charges can be laid against the man who punched Daniel Christie, whose life support has been turned off.

Mr Christie, 18, was taken to St Vincent's Hospital in a critical condition after allegedly being punched by Shaun McNeil in Kings Cross on New Year's Eve.

And after 11 days in hospital his life support was turned off on Saturday afternoon.

Attorney-general Greg Smith said he has asked the acting director of public prosecutions "to closely examine this case with a view to determining if murder charges are appropriate in light of the evidence, and in light of the alleged offender's reported martial arts experience."

After a meeting with the family of Thomas Kelly, who also died after a king-hit attack in Kings Cross, Mr Smith said he's giving "careful consideration to their proposals."

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The Kelly's in November began a petition calling for drunkenness to be a mandatory aggravating factor that must be taken into account in sentencing.

The petition, started in November, was at about 25,000 signatures before New Year's Eve.

And following the alleged assault on Mr Christie, that surged to more than 124,000.

Mr Smith wouldn't comment further on the case, but did pass on his condolences to the Christie family.

"Daniel Christie's death is a senseless tragedy which will rightly outrage and sadden everyone in NSW. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this difficult time," he said in a statement.

"I cannot imagine their pain and anguish, their despair and devastation and I am humbled by their dignity and the generous gesture of donating Daniel's organs."

Police expect further charges to be laid against his alleged attacker when he next appears in court in March.


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