The man convicted of manslaughter over the 2012 one-punch killing of 18-year-old Thomas Kelly has walked free from prison.
Neither the state nor Kelly’s parents opposed granting parole to Loveridge at the time.
Kelly’s father Ralph now claims they were denied facts about Loveridge’s time behind bars before the submission was made to the parole board, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
Ralph Kelly told the publication he felt “blindsided” by the process.
The corrections department is reviewing the reviewing the matter.
Loveridge was heavily drunk when he punched Kelly in the face during a night out in Sydney on July 7, 2012, knocking the 18-year-old down and fracturing his skull when he fell backwards.
Kelly died two days later in hospital.
Loveridge also assaulted four other people that same night.
The incident was one of the contributing factors behind the introduction of Sydney’s strict lockout laws, which were eventually removed in 2021.
He was originally sentenced to seven years and two months in prison, but that was increased to 13 years and eight months on appeal.
Of that, 10 years and six months was specifically for the manslaughter of Kelly.
He became eligible for parole last year, but it was denied by the authority, which found Loveridge’s release would pose a risk to community safety.
Under his parole conditions, Loveridge is not allowed to drink alcohol, contact Kelly’s family or his co-offenders, nor visit the City of Sydney and Shoalhaven local government areas.
He is also barred from going to the suburb of Neutral Bay and from having any contact with bikie gangs.
