Cameraman knocked out at Thomas Kelly murder accused's hearing
Peter Bodkin, Nathan Klein and Yoni Bashan The Daily Telegraph July 19, 2012 1:05PM
THERE were violent scenes outside a Sydney court today, where one of the supporters of the man accused of murdering teenager Thomas Kelly knocked out a
Channel 9 cameraman Mario Conti was knocked to the ground as they were surrounded by media at Burwood Local Court in Sydney's inner west. Mr Conti hit his head as he fell and lay on the footpath barely moving for around 20 minutes before an ambulance took him away from the scene.
His alleged attacker was taken into Burwood police station, where he was being questioned early this afternoon.
Kieran Loveridge, 18, was arrested last night over the murder the 18-year-old Kelly in the nightclub hub of Kings Cross on July 7.
A FOUR-day sweep of 58 pubs and clubs in Kings Cross began last night, with government inspectors called in to ensure they comply with the law.
Detectives believe Loveridge may have punched a man in "a similar fashion" minutes before he allegedly king-hit Kelly.
Loveridge then allegedly went on to hit another two men within the Kings Cross area in the space of three hours, according to police.
Loveridge sat with his head down in the dock, displaying prominent neck and arm tattoos during a brief appearance in court this morning.
He didn't apply for bail, but his lawyer said the 18-year-old would make an application for release next Wednesday.
Around a dozen friends and family were in court to support Loveridge, who will remain in custody until at least next week.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Mal Lanyon said investigators had worked tirelessly in reviewing CCTV footage and information from the public over the incident.
"It was physical force used in each of the three incidents outside Mr Kelly and not dissimilar in nature," he said.
"There was an assault on a male sometime shortly before the assault on Mr Kelly and subsequent to Mr Kelly's assault there were two further assaults several hours later in the evening."
Officers have also seized a number of items from a home in Seven Hills, in Sydney's west.
Mr Lanyon said police would continue to investigate the matter.
Homicide squad detectives arrested him at a Belmore sports field about 7.30pm last night.
He was interviewed at Campsie police station by strike force Mohawk detectives.
Just before midnight he was charged with one count of murder.
Loveridge was also charged with three counts of assault relating to separate alleged attacks the same night.
Police allege Loveridge, who turned 18 on March 9, king-hit Mr Kelly about 10pm on July 7 as he walked with his girlfriend on Victoria St, in Kings Cross.
A police source said Loveridge was also in the Cross for a big night out.
Mr Kelly, of Bowral, suffered critical head injuries. Two days later, in St Vincent's Hospital, his parents Ralph and Kathy made the heart-breaking decision to turn off his life support.
Two more people were also allegedly assaulted on Roslyn St in the Cross, where Mr Kelly was hit.
Loveridge had been at Belmore Oval watching a friend play football, although reports emerged last night that he had been watching a training session of the Canterbury Bulldogs.
He was handcuffed and taken from the ground.
Sources said that while Loveridge spoke with police as he was being driven to the station, he declined to be interviewed.
Mr Kelly finished high school at The King's School last year and had an accounting cadetship while also studying commerce at Macquarie University at night.
Mr Kelly's shocking death has also led to an urgent review of safety along the notorious Golden Mile.
Gambling Minister George Souris ordered a four-day compliance blitz of 58 late-trading pubs and clubs.
The operation, which started on Tuesday, aims to assess the effectiveness of security, surveillance and incident reporting.
More to come
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