Murder charge over fatal punch

Daniel Christie was hit in almost the same location where 18-year-old Thomas Kelly was killed by one punch in July 2012. Photo / Thinkstock

The man accused of fatally punching teenager Daniel Christie in Sydney's Kings Cross was yesterday charged with murder.

Shaun McNeil, 25, was arrested at the scene on New Year's Eve. On Saturday, after 11 days in hospital, Christie's life support was turned off.

McNeil, a labourer and self-proclaimed martial arts fighter, has also been charged with maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and other assault-related offences.

He was refused bail and is due before Central Local Court today.

After the 18-year-old's death, New South Wales Attorney-General Greg Smith on Saturday said he had asked the Director of Public Prosecutions to consider if a murder charge was more appropriate.

Christie's family released a statement shortly after his death, describing him as a "beacon of morality".

"His death has left us feeling completely destroyed and has torn a hole in the wider community in which he was involved," they said.

"No family should be forced to deal with this situation, however we are not the first and we fear that we won't be the last."

Christie was hit in almost the same location where 18-year-old Thomas Kelly was killed by one punch in July 2012.

Both attacks have prompted growing calls for tougher sentencing for alcohol-related violence.

- AAP