Young Pinoy dies after one-punch assault in Australia

A single punch to the head killed an Australia-based Filipino nursing graduate who was defending a woman from her boyfriend, reports said.

A report on Yahoo 7 News said Raynor Tristan Castillo Manalad was breaking up a fight between the suspect, Hugh Garth, and Garth's girlfriend at a house party in Syndey last Saturday when he was punched.

Manalad, who recently graduated from Australian Catholic University, was rushed to Westmead Hospital, where he died the next day, the report said.

Suspect

Garth, meanwhile, was arrested and charged with grievous bodily harm with intent, common assault and affray before the Parramatta Bail Court, according to a report on Sydney Morning Herald.

The accused reportedly refused to post bail and will spend his 22nd birthday on Friday in jail.

Hours before the incident, Garth posted a picture of a bottle of the liquor Southern Comfort on his Facebook account with the caption "Get it started." His social media account has been deleted, but Sydney Morning Herald was able to include the picture on the article.

In a video that accompanies the article, Garth's mother expressed shock at her son's actions, saying she did not know it was her son on the news.

"Loving, caring young man"

Manalad's parents, on the other hand, mourn their son's tragic death.

Manalad's mother, Teresita, told Yahoo 7 News that since the incident, she and her husband have not been able to sleep.

Manalad, who was an only son, was described as a "loving, caring young man who was passionate about helping people with mental illness."

"It's devastating. My life, and my husband's life, will never, ever be the same again," Teresita told Yahoo 7 News.

Manalad's girlfriend of sevenyears, for her part, said, "We need to give justice to his death. This is not right."

Law vs. king-punches

Garth may be the first to receive charges under Australia's new one-punch law. The law was enacted after a spate of deaths caused by king-punches, also known as coward- or sucker-punches. A BBC report said under the new law, a minimum of eight years may be handed to offenders influenced by drugs or alcohol.

Before Manalad, Sydney teenager Daniel Christie died from injuries after a man punched him on New Year's Eve. More recently, The Telegraph reported on Thomas Kelly, another teenager, who was killed by an unprovoked punch from another drunken man. –Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News