One-punch killer Kieran Loveridge walks free from prison after his victim Thomas Kelly’s parents slam the decision as based on a ‘pack of lies’

The man convicted of the 2012 murder of 18-year-old Thomas Kelly in Sydney’s Kings Cross has been released from prison.

Kieran Loveridge was released from Broken Hill prison in far western NSW late on Friday following a decision by the State Parole Authority (SPA) earlier this month.

He was released despite Kelly’s parents Kathy and Ralph saying they were unaware of Loveridge’s violent outbursts in prison before giving their blessing for his parole.

On Wednesday night, they told the ABC’s 7.30pm program that they supported the killer’s release based on “a pack of lies” and said Loveridge had shown no remorse.

During the parole hearing, they learned that he had been repeatedly violent during his years in prison, attacking several people, including hitting a bicycle in the face.

The now 30-year-old murdered Mr Kelly in a “cowardly and unprovoked” attack in July 2012, and on April 4 Judge Geoffrey Bellew said the SPA was “satisfied” it was in the best interests of the community to free Loveridge to let.

In the most recent example of Loveridge’s behavior in prison, just weeks before the parole hearing, he was drunk and violent toward corrections officers.

“It’s hard to believe that the State Parole Authority thinks he won’t pose a risk to the community, or a low risk, as they say,” Ralph Kelly said.

“Considering he had an outburst on February 27, it appears he is still the same person he was 12 years ago.”

Kathy Kelly said Loveridge “was drunk in jail and aggravated.”

“We were talking a month and a half ago… and we weren’t aware of that when we put forward the submission saying we supported parole.

“As far as we’re concerned, we did the right thing.”

She said they only learned about the extent of Loveridge’s violence in prison during the parole hearing, “as the judge basically laid it all out.”

“It was disgusting,” Ms Kelly said.

“It was just terrible that we were kept in the dark about that because we actually went with our submission and supported the parole with a package of lies.

“If we had known that, we certainly wouldn’t have supported it.”

Mr Kelly believes it is only a matter of time before Loveridge commits further crimes now that he has been released.

“He can’t be watched 24 hours a day, and he will drink, he will become violent, and he will reoffend,” he said.

“There’s no doubt that when he touches alcohol, the violence, the aggravation comes out, the violence comes out, and it’s uncontrollable.”

Kathy Kelly does not believe Loveridge regrets killing her son.

‘Absolutely not… of course he couldn’t contact us, I understand that. But there are ways to contact the family and show that you are sorry.

‘There has never been an apology for what he did. I don’t think there was ever any remorse.”

Ralph Kelly agreed, saying, “We know he doesn’t regret killing Thomas.

“We received an apology note the day before the Supreme Court (Loveridge case was convicted).

‘It wasn’t written by him. It was written by someone from the legal profession and there was a squiggle at the bottom, which immediately gave him 25 percent (time) off because he had signed the letter.’

Ms Kelly said most people don’t realize “that prisoners have access to making alcohol (illegal) and different things that are not allowed in prison.”

Loveridge, who attacked four others on the night he killed Thomas Kelly, was initially given a sentence of just four years, but on appeal this was increased to a minimum of ten years and a maximum of thirteen years and eight months.

As Loveridge was sentenced, Thomas’ younger brother Stuart made a heartbreaking statement outside court.

‘I no longer have an older brother. Instead, I have a hole in my life that I have to somehow come to terms with and accept,” he said.

Stuart Kelly later took his own life.

“We lost our beautiful son… four years later our other child Stuart took his own life as a result of the loss of his older brother,” Ms Kelly said after Loveridge’s parole hearing.

“He was only 14 years old when Tom was murdered… our family may never find forgiveness for Mr. Loveridge.

“We continue to mourn our two boys every day… we have been given a double life sentence.”

NSW Corrections Minister Anoulack Chanthivong told Daily Mail Australia that families of ‘victims’ should be strongly supported during the parole process.

“The impending release of an offender can understandably be very painful for the victim’s family.”

Mr Chanthivong said the acting corrections commissioner, Leon Taylor, had “contacted the Kelly family to apologize for the distress caused by their experience.”

He said Mr Taylor had also offered a meeting to discuss what changes could be made to help prevent similar concerns for other crime victims.

“Releasing a prisoner on parole provides an opportunity to ensure that he or she reintegrates into society under supervision,” Chanthivong said.

“Releasing them at the end of their sentences does not provide the same control options.”

He added that in Loveridge’s case, the SPA has imposed strict requirements “including electronic monitoring, geographic restrictions and drug and breath analysis to monitor any use of illegal substances and/or alcohol.”

Beyond blue 1300 22 46 36