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Thomas Kelly’s parents made the decision to switch off their 18-year-old son’s life support on Monday 9 July.

Two days earlier, Kelly was walking hand in hand with his girlfriend in Sydney’s Kings Cross when he was king hit in an unprovoked attack.

The event is a tragic reminder of the devastating – and all-too-often fatal – consequences of street violence.

Following his son’s death, Ralph Kelly said: “We can’t even remember what day it is, we haven’t changed our clothes since we came up from Bowral … it is like being in hole.”

Almost two weeks after the incident, 18-year-old Kieran Loveridge was arrested in relation to the attack. Loveridge was apprehended due largely to CCTV footage and charged with Thomas’s murder as well as three counts of assault connected to separate events on the same night.

Loveridge was arrested the day before Thomas’s funeral, prompting family friend David Anstee to note it was “perfect timing”, also stating: “it hasn’t been the most critical thing on their (the Kelly family’s) agenda; I think they’re just dealing with the whole reality of what’s happened”.

The New South Wales State Government has since conducted a four-day audit into every licensed Kings Cross venue.

http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2012/07/19/3548860.htm?site=sydney

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/man-arrested-over-thomas-kelly-death/story-e6frg6nf-1226429457877

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/teenager-charged-over-cross-killing-20120718-22ayl.html

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/man-18-to-face-sydney-court-over-kings-cross-killing/story-e6frg6nf-1226429677521

Zara Cooper.