Thomas Kelly’s one punch killer breaks his silence after walking free

A one-punch killer who spent 11 years behind bars for a fatal, unprovoked attack on a young man has spoken out for the first time after his release.

Kieran Loveridge, 30, was released from Broken Hill Prison two weeks ago after fatally beating 18-year-old Thomas Kelly with a single punch in Sydney’s Kings Cross in July 2012.

The attack prompted the New South Wales government to introduce strict mandatory sentencing laws for drunken violence and controversial lockout laws, forcing nightclubs and bars to refuse entry after 1:30 am.

Loveridge told the Daily telegram he was just a kid who “messed up” by punching Thomas because he never meant to kill him.

‘I was 18, still at school when that happened. “I wasn’t derailed, I just went out there and made a mistake,” he said.

“I went out that night, and unfortunately I made a mistake, and when I woke up, I went far away, I’m going to jail.”

He said he was “extremely remorseful” for his crimes, something Thomas’ parents don’t believe.

“They’ve been to court when I said sorry to them, I’m not sure what else I can do,” Loveridge said.

He now wants to educate young men about the dangers of alcohol and violence.

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 sentence was increased to a minimum of ten years and a maximum of thirteen years and eight months.

Mr Kelly’s parents, Kathy and Ralph, initially supported the parole, but last month they said they did so based on “a pack of lies” and that Loveridge had shown no remorse.

At the parole hearing in April, they learned that Loveridge had repeatedly been violent during his years in prison, attacking several people, including punching a bicycle in the face.

In the most recent incident, just weeks before the parole hearing, Loveridge 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,” Kelly told ABC 7.30.

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

She said they didn’t learn the extent of Loveridge’s behavior in prison until the parole hearing, “as the judge basically laid it all out.”

“It was disgusting,” Ms Kelly said.

“It was just appalling 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 once he is released on parole.

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.”

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.”

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