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Upset at verdict
Family disappointed at jury’s ‘not guilty’ verdict
■ Victim Terence Keenan.
A Rochester man believes a
jury’s decision to acquit a Tatura
footballer who punched his
brother, who later died, is sending
the wrong message to young
people.
Bernard Keenan said his family was
upset with the outcome after a jury
found William John Lovel, 22, not
guilty of the manslaughter of former
Rochester resident Terence Keenan,
60, on Thursday.
Mr Lovel took the witness stand at
Shepparton Supreme Court to defend
his actions the night he knocked Mr
Keenan unconscious.
He pleaded not guilty to one count
of manslaughter following the incident
at Tatura Hotel on October 1 last year
during post grand final celebrations.
Mr Keenan died 13 days later
without regaining consciousness.
Bernard Keenan said his brother’s
death hit the family hard.
‘‘It wasn’t the outcome we want-
ed,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s pretty sad . . . he died and
really there is no outcome of it.
‘‘It affects us all in different ways,
(Terence’s) kids are sad and upset they
have no father to talk to or to hug.
‘‘Our dad is 91 and he puts a photo
of Terence in front of him when he’s
having tea.
‘‘He always said he had another 20
years of life in him . . . he had 20 years
taken off him,’’ he said.
Bernard said his brother was a
happy man who always joked, was
always doing something, took a deep
interest in his family and was the
family reunion planner.
Rochester resident Geoff Moroney,
who was a long-time close friend of
Terence, said the verdict was disap-
pointing for the family.
‘‘He was a great cheeky person with
a great big smile and would do
anything for anyone,’’ he said.
He said Terence made a point of
calling to check up on him every day
after he had a serious accident some
years ago.
‘‘He was a very dear friend and
always looked after me,’’ he said.
He said Terence always offered a
helping hand to anyone who needed it.
‘‘Terry and Wendy (his wife)
looked after a lot of foster kids and
helped them out,’’ Bernard said.
Terence was captain of the Roches-
ter Cricket Club in 1985 and started his
football career in Rochester before
moving to Shepparton to work 20
years ago.
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