The above two ads are part of the Western Australian Government’s awareness campaign about the new laws against “one punch deaths”. One punch deaths are so called because the victim dies from falling and hitting their heads as the result of a punch. In the ads, a common scenario is depicted: 3 friends out clubbing and drinking, and as they are walking at the end of the night, a stranger bumps into one of them. What happens next will change the course of two person’s lives.
Why is this special law needed?
Attorney General Jim McGinty said that under the new law, it did not matter whether the death was foreseeable or whether the attacker actually intended to kill.
“If the victim dies, the attacker can be held accountable for that death and be liable for up to 10 years’ imprisonment,” Mr McGinty said.
“There have been several high profile one-punch cases in WA where attackers have been acquitted of manslaughter because it could not be proved that they could have foreseen their actions would cause their victims to die.
“The victims’ families have been rightfully outraged that the people they hold responsible for their loved ones’ deaths have not been convicted of a crime.
“This new offence reinforces community expectations that violent attacks, such as a blow to the head, are unacceptable. When people die as a result of such attacks, their attackers will now be held accountable for the full consequences of their violence.”
Campaign to warn on new ‘one punch’ laws. : thewest.com.au
As a person who goes out a lot, hanging around bars and clubs and boozed up people, I can confirm that what the TV ads show is very real. The ad campaign will also see posters and coasters displayed in drinking venues (in the toilets too I hope). I think it’s tax payers’ money well-spent because it can potentially save more from reduced hospitalisation, prosecution and incarceration.
Yeah there will still be people who will be too drunk on the night to remember or care about this new law but they will be the minority. And if they kill someone, at least now they won’t get off that easily.
6 Responses to “One Punch Can Kill”
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I think the law is good….and the ads.
The ad is pretty well done. I remember first see-ing it on TV and I thought.
“Hey, that could be me ”
Scary thoughts.
Some questions.
1. Is this a state law or a federal law?
2. as the ads show, the friends can also be convicted by the law if one of them do the deeds?
3. What about self-defense? If the puncher plead it?
Dina: thought the fact that we need a law for this shows how common it is. Yikes.
herman: hey same here. It could easily happen to any of us who are out on the night.
Lupin: it’s a state law. The friends will not be charged as accessories because there’s no pre-meditation. And yes self-defense is allowed but the evidence and witnesses will obviously need to back you up.
Lupin - 1. State Law.
2. Do what deeds? It’s ONE PUNCH law. Only one punch from one person is needed. If friends join in then it comes under assault laws.
3. It’s ONE PUNCH. In self defence, the defending punch would be a second punch.
Thanks Mooiness and Dabido for the explanation.