The talented Brisbane Barracudas water polo player never regained consciousness after the attack.
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His father Steven confirmed he died in hospital on Monday in an emotional press conference thanking hospital staff, police and the water polo community.
Earlier today, a lawyer for one the two men charged over the Brisbane incident said his client was “very stressed” and “very anxious”.
Hours before the charges were upgraded yesterday afternoon, Mr Renata, of Coombabah (on the Gold Coast), and Mr Maxwell, of Tanah Merah (near Logan in Brisbane’s south), appeared at Brisbane Magistrates Court.
Cole Miller, who died after a one-punch assault in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley on Sunday morning (January 3, 2016).
He said Maxwell was alleged to have approached Mr Miller and his friend and asked “if they wanted to fight”.
He suffered critical head injuries after being punched and was taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.
“This is a life lost of this young man and then also the other two men… it’s their lives lost”.
“It’s the families that are now missing out on Cole’s life and his friends who are here grieving now and all for what?”
Ms Bennett worked desperately to revive the teenager on what had otherwise been a quiet Sunday morning but said the impact didn’t hit her until after paramedics rushed him to hospital.
Paying tribute to fallen teenager Cole Miller were chaplains who had been by his side after the alleged attack, including Chris Owens.
Renata and Maxwell both had their charges upgraded to unlawful striking causing death after initially being charged with grevious bodily harm.
“The co-accused came in… and that’s the punch that has led to this person falling to the ground”, Mr Clements told the court.
Both are due to appear again on February 8.
Outside court, the accused’s lawyer Neil Lawler described the circumstances as a ” tragedy for all concerned”. “This is such a tragic loss for Mr. Miller’s family and friends and for his peers at the QAS”, Mr Pitt said.
The teen was on track to follow in the footsteps of his Olympian brother Billy before his death, and was praised by his father Steven as a “beautiful, courageous young man”.
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Miller, who is from Highgate Hill, represented Queensland in below 20s water polo.
