Suspended sentence for role in Miller death

A NEW Zealand man has walked from court after being handed a suspended sentence for starting the fight that led to the death of promising Brisbane teenage sportsman Cole Miller.

Mr Miller and his best friend Nick Pace were heading home when they crossed paths with Daniel Maxwell in Fortitude Valley’s Chinatown mall on January 3, 2016.

Maxwell had been out celebrating his 21st birthday and already tried to assault several people earlier that night.

The Brisbane Supreme Court heard Maxwell challenged Mr Miller, punching the 18-year-old elite water polo player in the chest.

Mr Pace was also struck in the chest as he dodged a blow to the head. Mr Miller was then knocked out from behind by Armstrong Renata, causing him to fall face first to the ground. He never regained consciousness and died in hospital two days later.

Maxwell was due to stand trial for unlawful striking causing death but instead pleaded guilty to downgraded charges of assault and affray. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison, wholly suspended, having already spent 19 months behind bars awaiting trial.

The court heard Maxwell, now aged 22, was in Australia on a visa and risked being deported to New Zealand as a result of his sentence. BOND actor Daniel Craig stands to make £100 million ($162 million) playing 007 for a fifth time. Craig, who reportedly pocketed £48 million for his last outing as the suave secret agent in Spectre, is rumoured to have been offered £60 million plus a percentage of box office takings for the next, as yet untitled, Bond adventure.