Charges laid after one-punch death at Queensland pub
Police have charged a man with assault at a Redbank hotel, near Ipswich, that ended in a man's death.
The Redbank man has been charged with one count of unlawful striking causing death of a 69-year old man.
The assault happened at the Kerwick Hotel on Brisbane Road at Redbank west of Brisbane.
Emergency services were called to the pub just before 5pm on Saturday after reports of the assault involving two men at the pub.
The injured man was treated before he was taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital on Brisbane's south side, where he subsequently died.
Detectives set up the crime scene and interviewed the 44-year-old man before charging him early on Sunday morning. Detectives and specialist police services were working there until late Saturday night.
Police have alleged there was an altercation between the two men during which the victim was struck and sustained the fatal injury.
Detective Inspector Lou Strohfeldt said the two men were residents at the hotel. The two had been involved in a confrontation on the front balcony of the building yesterday afternoon.
"It will be alleged that there was an altercation or a confrontation between the two of them," Detective Strohfeldt told the ABC
Detective Inspector Strohfeldt said the incident was a reminder of how dangerous even one punch could be.
He said people did not realise what could happen with just one punch.
"People just need to walk away — there's no need to hit anybody else, go for a walk, go and talk to someone else," he said.
"Within a short period of time whatever the passion is will cool."
He said it appeared that the elderly man had been struck once.
However, he would not provide further details on his injuries.
Police are believed to be investigating if alcohol played a role in the alleged incident.
by Leon Gettler, February 13th 2017
