A ONE-PUNCH attack which killed a Bunbury man has been labelled "a senseless act of violence" by a judge during sentencing in the Bunbury Magistrates Court today.
Twenty-two-year-old Aztec Brian Tekuru-Reid was sentenced to 22 months immediate imprisonment over the death of 48-year-old Gary Welhan in November last year.
The court heard on November 2 last year around 8.30pm, Tekuru-Reid rode his bike past Mr Welhan who was walking his dog along Spencer Street when words were exchanged between the two.
Tekuru-Reid rode his bike another 30 metres past Mr Welhan before getting off and walking towards him.
He broke into a jog, striking him with a closed fist which caused Mr Welhan to fall back and hit his head on the pavement, rendering him unconscious.
Tekuru-Reid then got back on his bike and rode away before buying alcohol and heading to a friend's house where he boasted about the incident.
Mr Welhan died the next day from his injuries.
Judge Laurence Levy took note of Tekuru-Reid's lack of attempting at checking on the welfare of Mr Welhan and said his actions were "senseless" as Mr Welhan was already in a vulnerable and intoxicated state.
In sentencing, the judge said Tekuru-Reid's upbringing was "horrendous" due to a combination of his father's involvement in New Zealand gangs and his mother's alcohol and substance abuse.
But Judge Levy said this did not excuse his actions which had left a family devastated.
"Each day they are reminded of their loss," he said.
"They carry the pain and anger...and my sentence does not bring back a life."
He said one-punch deaths were a problem and an act of senseless violence.
Read the Bunbury family's plea for answers after Mr Welhan's death here.
