A 25-year-old man has been sentenced to jail for a maximum of eight years and three months following the death of Australian DJ Chris Bradley.
As ABC reports, Javen O'Neill pled guilty to manslaughter after repeatedly punching Bradley at a Byron Bay house party on Christmas Day in 2017.
The Lismore District Court heard that O'Neill's assault on Bradley was unprovoked and that he was under the influence of a "considerable" amount of alcohol and cocaine.
Witnesses said they saw O'Neill engaging in conversation with Bradley at the party before he suddenly struck the 28-year-old in the head.
Paramedics were called to the scene at around at 11pm but could not revive Bradley.
It is reported that O'Neill struck Bradley in the head multiple times before he fell to the ground and died.
"You punched another person for no apparent reason, and before he had even lifted a finger in defence, you pummelled him mercilessly," Judge Laura Wells said.
"You might think that your situation is most unfortunate, and indeed it is, you didn't intend to take Mr Bradley's life in that brief explosion of violence… but you did.
"So while you are unfortunate, you are not as unfortunate as Mr Bradley and his family."
O'Neill will be eligible for parole in August 2023.
Originally from Sydney, Bradley reportedly moved to Byron Bay and studied studio engineering at SAE Institute.
He was influential in the local dance scene and launched artist management and events company, Atypical, which included names such as Robina, Eva J and Russell Smith.
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