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| Teenager pleads guilty to manslaughter of Thomas Kelly | Teenager pleads guilty to manslaughter of Thomas Kelly |
| (4 months later) | |
| The young man charged with killing Thomas Kelly as he walked along Sydney's Kings Cross party strip has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. | The young man charged with killing Thomas Kelly as he walked along Sydney's Kings Cross party strip has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. |
| Kieran Loveridge, 19, entered the plea when his matter came before the central local court in Sydney on Tuesday. | Kieran Loveridge, 19, entered the plea when his matter came before the central local court in Sydney on Tuesday. |
| He was originally charged with murder but the prosecution accepted the lesser plea of manslaughter. | He was originally charged with murder but the prosecution accepted the lesser plea of manslaughter. |
| Police accused Loveridge of going on a violent spree in Kings Cross about 10pm (AEST) on 7 July last year. He was charged with assaulting five males, including Kelly. | Police accused Loveridge of going on a violent spree in Kings Cross about 10pm (AEST) on 7 July last year. He was charged with assaulting five males, including Kelly. |
| The victim, an 18-year-old accounting cadet, was walking with his girlfriend and talking on his mobile phone when he was attacked. | The victim, an 18-year-old accounting cadet, was walking with his girlfriend and talking on his mobile phone when he was attacked. |
| Loveridge also pleaded guilty to four counts of common assault and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The additional pleas relate to his other four victims. | Loveridge also pleaded guilty to four counts of common assault and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The additional pleas relate to his other four victims. |
| The Department of Public Prosecutions withdrew the charge of murder in relation to Kelly's death. | The Department of Public Prosecutions withdrew the charge of murder in relation to Kelly's death. |
| Kelly's family sat in the gallery when the pleas were entered and clutched each other's arms during the brief appearance. | Kelly's family sat in the gallery when the pleas were entered and clutched each other's arms during the brief appearance. |
| When the magistrate asked Loveridge to acknowledge his guilty pleas, he responded: "Yes, ma'am." | When the magistrate asked Loveridge to acknowledge his guilty pleas, he responded: "Yes, ma'am." |
| He was committed to sentencing in the supreme court on 2 August. | He was committed to sentencing in the supreme court on 2 August. |
| Outside court, Kelly's parents, sister and extended family expressed their dissatisfaction over the plea deal. "We're here today for our son Thomas, who cannot speak for himself and will never speak again," his mother, Cathy Kelly, said. | Outside court, Kelly's parents, sister and extended family expressed their dissatisfaction over the plea deal. "We're here today for our son Thomas, who cannot speak for himself and will never speak again," his mother, Cathy Kelly, said. |
| "Although we are here to represent him, we have had no rights or say at all in the procedures that have brought us here, or in the decision that has been made here today." | "Although we are here to represent him, we have had no rights or say at all in the procedures that have brought us here, or in the decision that has been made here today." |
| She also said that although they chose to turn off their son's life support two days after the incident, his life had ended when he was assaulted. | She also said that although they chose to turn off their son's life support two days after the incident, his life had ended when he was assaulted. |
| "That decision was made for us on July 7 (2012) at 10.07pm," she said, "when our beautiful, defenceless son Thomas was king hit with such force and violent intent. When his head hit the pavement, the very essence of what made him Thomas was gone then and there. He was a young man who loved his family and friends, and epitomised respect." | "That decision was made for us on July 7 (2012) at 10.07pm," she said, "when our beautiful, defenceless son Thomas was king hit with such force and violent intent. When his head hit the pavement, the very essence of what made him Thomas was gone then and there. He was a young man who loved his family and friends, and epitomised respect." |
| Ms Kelly also took aim at people who commit violent acts and have total disregard for the consequences of their actions. | Ms Kelly also took aim at people who commit violent acts and have total disregard for the consequences of their actions. |
| "Our family has lost a son, a brother, a grandson, a nephew and cousin," she said. | "Our family has lost a son, a brother, a grandson, a nephew and cousin," she said. |
| "We will never forget our darling Thomas. We will never stop missing him, and our lives will never be the same." | "We will never forget our darling Thomas. We will never stop missing him, and our lives will never be the same." |
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