Kiwi arrested over Sydney assault

Kane Desmond Tupuolamoui. Photo / NZPA, supplied

A New Zealander has been arrested in Darwin over the savage assault on Irish backpacker David Keohane two years ago.

New South Wales detectives arrested Kane Desmond Tupulamoui, 21, at a house in Leanyer, in Darwin's northern suburbs, at 6am (8am NZT) today.

The arrest follows a nationwide search launched two months ago, police said.

The man will face Darwin Magistrates Court later on Thursday morning for an extradition hearing.

Police expect him to be extradited to Sydney on Friday, where he will be charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent to murder.

After a night out at the pub, Mr Keohane, 29, was discovered lying on the ground near the intersection of Brook and Kidman Street at Coogee in Sydney about 3am on August 9, 2008.

The flooring contractor, who was living and working in Sydney, had been punched in the head about 14 times.

He was treated for multiple head injuries and facial fractures at Prince of Wales Hospital, where he remained unconscious for 218 days after the attack.

Mr Keohane was taken back to Ireland by his family in September, 2009.

Eastern Beaches local area commander Superintendent Gavin Dengate said a tip-off from the public led to the arrest.

"We received information from members of the public which assisted us in finding this man and I would like to extend my thanks to the community for their help," Supt Dengate said in a statement on Thursday.

Three other people have previously been charged over Mr Keohane's assault.

In May 2010, Thomas Isaako from Bankstown was sentenced to a minimum 14 years in jail over the attack.

Mr Keohane described his attacker's sentence as a good result.

With time already spent in custody, Isaako will be eligible for release from prison on parole on September 15, 2022.

At the time, detectives renewed their appeal for information to find Isaako's alleged co-offender, Tupulamoui.

They said the New Zealander had frequented the eastern suburbs around Coogee, but had not been seen since the night of Mr Keohane's attack.

- AAP