Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™ LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Vic father calls for 'coward's punch' law

The father who lost a son to a punch outside a Melbourne pub says Victoria should emulate NSW and introduce laws to punish one-punch offenders.

The father of a man killed outside a Melbourne pub by a king-hit delivered from behind has called for Victoria to introduce the so-called "coward's punch" laws.

Shannon McCormack, 22, died six days after he struck his head on a concrete wall when punched unconscious outside Queens Bridge Hotel in 2007.

McCormack's killer has never been identified, despite several witnesses to the attack and partial CCTV footage.

Coroner Peter White on Monday recommended the Melbourne City Council encourage pubs and clubs to install more CCTV cameras.

He could not establish that excessive alcohol consumption was a factor.

Shannon's father, William McCormack, said he would like to see Victoria adopt New South Wales' one-punch laws.

The law introduced in January, and known as the coward's punch law, imposes a mandatory eight-year jail term for drunk offenders who hit and kill a person.

"I would've liked to see that come in for sure. The coward's punch is really appropriately named," he told reporters outside court.

"The person who hit our son ran up behind him and hit him in the side of the head. He didn't even know it was coming, it was definitely a coward's punch."

One witness to the assault told the inquest the attacker came from behind Shannon and took a two or three step run-up and punched him to the side of his head.

Mr McCormack said he and and his wife, Cheryl, had not expected any surprises in Coroner White's findings, after additional CCTV footage and a police image of the killer released last year failed to lead to a breakthrough in the case.

But he said they had not given up hope of a friend or family member of the thug, or even the attacker himself finally coming forward.

"One day these people involved are going to have kids, get married, how would they like it if it was their child," Mr McCormack said.


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Watch now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world