One-punch victim who died in savage attack 'was hit so hard he was unconscious before he hit the ground'
- Jack Hanley, 22, was killed in a one-punch attack during a brawl in 2017
- Court heard he was hit so hard he was likely unconscious before he fell down
- Reece Watherston is on trial after pleading not guilty to manslaughter
A 22-year-old Adelaide man was killed with a single punch to his head, so hard it likely knocked him unconscious before he hit the ground, a court has heard.
Reece Watherston is on trial in the Supreme Court after pleading not guilty to the manslaughter of Jack Hanley during a brawl in 2017.
Opening the Crown case on Tuesday, prosecutor Mark Norman SC said Mr Hanley died at the scene from catastrophic head injuries caused when he fell backwards fracturing his skull on the concrete pavement.
'The accused hit him as hard as he possibly could,' Mr Norman told Justice Anne Bampton, who is conducting the judge-alone trial.
'The prosecution alleges the punch was an unlawful and dangerous act.'
Jack Hanley (right) died in 2017 after a one-punch attack in Adelaide, South Australia
Reece Watherston is on trial in the Supreme Court after pleading not guilty to the manslaughter of Jack Hanley during a brawl in 2017
The court heard the accused had engaged in a drunken, early hours brawl that initially involved two groups of people.
But Mr Norman said the victim posed no threat to Watherston at the time of the fatal blow.
He said the punch was captured on a mobile phone by someone who was passing by in a car.
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'The prosecution suggests it clearly shows the accused attacking the deceased,' the prosecutor said.
'It equally clearly shows the deceased trying to avoid the accused's attack by physically turning away from him.'
Mr Norman said it was at that point that Watherston pursued Mr Hanley and landed the 'extremely powerful punch'.
'Indeed so powerful it very likely knocked Mr Hanley unconscious before he hit the ground,' he said.
The prosecution alleges Mr Hanley (right) was hit so hard he was unconscious before he could hit the ground
The court heard that Watherston immediately walked from the scene and got into a taxi some distance away.
It was also told that both Mr Hanley and Watherston had the drugs MDMA and cannabis in their systems.
A post-mortem examination found Mr Hanley died from blunt head trauma which caused a severe brain injury.
The trial is continuing with Justice Bampton to visit the site of the fight on Hindley Street on Wednesday.
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