A teenager is in a critical condition in hospital after being attacked during New Year's Eve celebrations in Sydney's Kings Cross area - the latest alleged victim of an epidemic of "king-hitting" across Australia and beyond.
Daniel Christie, 18, was assaulted just metres from the spot where Thomas Kelly was king-hit - knocked out cold by a single punch - in July 2012, later dying from his injuries. That incident sparked nationwide revulsion, and led to the introduction of tough anti-alcohol measures in Kings Cross, including a freeze on new liquor licences. But the largely unprovoked attacks have continued, with a spate of them last month causing the death of one young man and leaving two others in induced comas.
The apparently random assaults, fuelled by alcohol and carried out for no reason other than mindless violence, mirror a series of similar incidents in the United States. Some experts have linked them to a social media game called Knockout, which involves king-hitting passers-by and posting videos online of them lying unconscious on the pavement.
The New Year's Eve attack took place just after the 9pm fireworks on Sydney Harbour, and on the same street where 18-year-old Kelly was felled by a single blow from Kieran Loveridge. Loveridge was convicted of manslaughter and jailed for at least four years in November.
Christie's alleged assailant, Shaun McNeil, 25, was remanded in custody until Monday. The Parramatta Bail Court heard that McNeil is accused of punching four other victims during the same assault. He has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Christie, assaulting Christie's brother, Peter, and common assault. Police Prosecutor Sergeant Lisa McEvoy said McNeil had earlier drunk about eight beers and one glass of wine.
