One-punch attacker Richard Vincec guilty of manslaughter

A young father who killed a 22-year-old man with one punch during a Melbourne night out says he prayed for his victim and will never forgive himself.

Richard Vincec, 26, has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Jaiden Walker, who died a week after he was hit to the side of the head and fell to the pavement with a ‘deafening’ crack.

He and his group of friends had been partying at the Cherry Bar in ACDC Lane on May 6. 

‘As a father myself, I could never imagine the pain I’ve put your family through,’ Vincec wrote to Jaiden’s family in a statement read to the court on Monday, adding that he prayed for his victim after learning he was in hospital.

‘I wish I could ask for forgiveness, but I will never forgive myself.’ 

Vincec had taken cocaine when he met Mr Walker and his friends at the Cherry Bar, entering a toilet cubicle with two of the group to take speed.

Vincec and a female member of the group, who had previously been romantically involved with Mr Walker, stayed inside the cubicle ‘making out’.

Richard Vincec, 26, has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Jaiden Walker (pictured in hospital), who died a week after he was hit to the side of the head and fell to the pavement with a ‘deafening’ crack

Jaiden Walker’s (pictured) grief-stricken father Jon Walker read a victim impact statement to the court, crying as he described his son as ‘just a nice, quiet young man who was always willing to lend a hand’

The group was evicted from the bar, with Vincec continuing to make sexual advances toward the woman and angered by Mr Walker who refused to shake his hand, before delivering what he described as a ‘swipe’.

Vincec’s barrister Robert Richter QC asked the court for mercy in sentencing, stating his client had not struck a ‘heavy blow’.

The lawyer said because Mr Walker – whom he described as having a ‘thin skull’ – was intoxicated, he had fallen hard without bracing and the crime was in the lower range for manslaughter, with Vincec showing genuine remorse.

He called for a merciful prison sentence, and also commented the state’s one-punch laws had been introduced in an environment of ‘moral panic’.

The group was evicted from the bar, with Vincec (centre) continuing to make sexual advances toward the woman and angered by Mr Walker who refused to shake his hand, before delivering what he described as a ‘swipe’

The victim’s grief-stricken father Jon Walker read a victim impact statement to the court, crying as he described his son as ‘just a nice, quiet young man who was always willing to lend a hand’.

Jaiden’s mother Heidi told the court her son would have been happy to know he’d helped others by donating his organs, apart from his eyes ‘because they were just too beautiful’.

She said her son was a ‘gentle young man’ who’d never been in a fight in his life.

Vincec, who has been on bail throughout most of the proceedings, was remanded in custody until sentencing.