An assault in a pub in north-west Adelaide earlier this month has seen a man die and his accused assailant’s charges escalated.
According to police, 29-year-old Matthew Hawkins allegedly punched 35-year-old local Luke Sweetman in the head, shortly after midnight on 10 August at the Peninsula Hotel Motel in Taperoo.
Emergency services were called and the injured man was transported to hospital with serious injuries.
Hawkins, from Exeter, was arrested at the scene, later charged with aggravated assault cause harm.
On 12 August he faced Port Adelaide Magistrates Court, where he made no application for bail.
During and after this initial hearing his identity was suppressed, when the prosecution submitted that publication of the defendant’s name or image could “potentially prejudice any identification” made by witnesses still to be interviewed by police.
However, Sweetman passed away in hospital on Friday (23 August) and on Monday police advised his charges would be upgraded when he reappeared in court.
On Tuesday the accused man appeared via video link before Adelaide Magistrates Court, where heightened charges of murder and manslaughter were applied. Again he did not enter a plea.
Magistrate Brian Nitschke lifted the suppression order, after the prosecution detailed that its purpose had been achieved.
Hawkins was remanded in custody. His case is listed for January, but he will return to court next month.
Neil Davis, founder of the Sammy D Foundation, which champions a goal to “end violence by connecting and empowering young people”, offered that he was “heartbroken” to hear of the death.
