A one-hit killer who spent 11 years behind bars for a deadly unprovoked attack on a young man has spoken for the first time after being released.
Kieran Loveridge, 30, was released from Broken Hill Prison two weeks ago after he fatally hit Thomas Kelly, 18, 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, which forced nightclubs and bars to refuse entry after 1.30am. .
Loveridge told the Daily Telegraph he was just a kid who ‘messed up’ by hitting Thomas because he never meant to kill him.
Thomas Kelly (pictured) died following an attack by one-punch killer Kieran Loveridge in July 2012.
Loveridge (left) was released from prison two weeks ago.
‘I was 18 and still at school when it happened. “I wasn’t off the rails, I just went out and made a mistake,” she said.
“I went out that night and unfortunately I made a mistake and I woke up going too far. I’m going to go to jail.”
He said he was “extremely remorseful” for his crimes, something Thomas’s parents do not believe.
“They were present in court when I apologized to them, I’m not sure what else I can do,” Loveridge said.
Now their goal is to educate young people about the dangers of alcohol and violence.
Loveridge, who attacked four other people on the night he killed Thomas Kelly, was initially given a sentence of just four years, but on appeal the sentence was raised to a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 13 years and eight months. .
Kelly’s parents, Kathy and Ralph, initially supported parole, but last month said they had done so based on “a bunch of lies” and that Loveridge had shown no remorse.
At his April parole hearing, they learned that Loveridge had been repeatedly violent during his years in prison, assaulting several people, including punching a bicyclist in the face.
Loveridge (pictured) had been repeatedly violent during his years in prison.
Thomas’s parents (pictured with his sister, Madeleine) claim they were not told about Loveridge’s violence in prison when they gave their blessing for his parole.
In the most recent incident, just weeks before his parole hearing, Loveridge was drunk and violent toward correctional 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,” Mr Kelly told the ABC at 7.30am.
“Considering that he had an outburst on February 27, it shows that he is still the same person he was 12 years ago.”
He said they only learned the extent of Loveridge’s behavior in prison at the parole hearing “when the judge was basically summarizing everything.”
“It was disgusting,” Kelly said.
“It was just appalling that we were kept in the dark about it, because we actually made our case and supported parole with a bunch of lies.
Thomas’ little brother Stuart (pictured) took his own life four years after his brother’s tragic death.
“If we had known, we definitely would not have supported it.”
Kelly believes “it’s only a matter of time” before Loveridge commits more crimes once he is granted parole.
Kathy Kelly doesn’t believe Loveridge regrets killing her son.
‘Of course not… of course, you haven’t been able to contact us, I understand. But there are ways to reach out to the family and show them that you are sorry.
“There has never been an apology for what he did. I don’t think there has been any type of remorse.
When Loveridge was convicted, Thomas’ younger brother Stuart made a heartbreaking statement outside court.
‘I don’t have an older brother anymore. Instead, I have a hole in my life that I must somehow accept and accept,” he stated.
Stuart Kelly later took his own life.
“We lost our beautiful son… four years later, our other son, Stuart, took his life as a result of the loss of his older brother,” Kelly said after Loveridge’s parole hearing.
‘He was only 14 when Tom was murdered… our family may never find forgiveness for Mr Loveridge.
“We continue to cry every day for our two children… they have given us a double life sentence.”
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