Police investigate man’s death – Hamilton
Police are seeking the public’s help following the death of a man near Newcastle this morning.
About 3am, the 32-year-old man and his brother, aged 42, were walking along the footpath on Beaumont Street at Hamilton, when they were approached by a group of males.An altercation occurred and the 32-year-old man was punched in the head, causing him to fall to the ground.
The group of males then ran from the area and emergency services were called.
The man was taken to John Hunter Hospital and pronounced dead. His brother was not injured.
Police established a crime scene closing Beaumont Street. Detectives from Newcastle City Local Area Command are investigating the incident, attempting to gather clear descriptions of the men involved. They are appealing for anyone who witnessed the assault or who has information should contact them via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
NSW Government delay in Hamilton hotels decision may have contributed to violent death of man in Newcastle
The residents group that instigated the Hamilton hotels complaint in February this year have expressed profound sadness with the reported violent death of a man in Beaumont Street early this morning [28 November 2009].
This occurred near closing time of a number of late trading hotels and within an OLGR declared “hot spot”.
We can’t help but feel that the NSW government’s unacceptable extraordinary delay in the Hamilton hotels case may have been at least, an indirect contributing factor, said spokesman Mr Tony Brown.
It has been over 14 weeks since the final complaint conference (12 August 2009 – 6 hotels) compared with the former independent Tribunal taking less than a week to release the more complex (15 hotels) landmark Newcastle shorter hours decision that has reduced alcohol fuelled violence in the nearby CBD by 30%.
The Police, local OLGR enforcement officers’ and residents’ common calls for tougher measures against Hamilton hotels to reduce alcohol related violence have been totally frustrated and ignored by the NSW government. We may be witnessing the tragic predictable consequences for such wilful and indefensible neglect and the loss of independent and open hotel complaint proceedings.
We believe this unconscionable delay in the Hamilton hotel complaint is politically driven to please and placate the powerful liquor industry lobby that is now the NSW Government’s largest political donor following the Premier’s announcing ban on developer donations.
This death follows on from the Manly Police boss’s recent public criticism of a government decision not to reduce Manly hotel trading hours.
[More information at manly-daily.whereilive.com.au]How many times have OLGR officials been directed to rewrite the Hamilton decision to keep the AHA onside?
