Killed Luke Mitchell's family's jail plea on gang bashings

THE family of good Samaritan murder victim Luke Mitchell wants mandatory jail sentences for people involved in gang attacks on Melbourne streets.

His brother, Shane, demanded politicians make those involved in vicious bashings serve a minimum three years in prison.

He said the same hardline penalty should apply to anybody who attacked police and to people convicted of carrying weapons.

Luke, 29, was bashed and stabbed to death outside a convenience store in Brunswick just minutes after intervening to


Shane Mitchell told the Herald Sun it was clear from events in the city since Luke's death that thugs would not get the message through any means other than mandatory prison sentences.

He said he was disheartened by a weekend attack that left police officer Brett Ward in hospital with head injuries.

"It's a real sad state . . . where we are as a community. We need to make some changes," Mr Mitchell said.

"In the short term, the judicial system needs to pull its finger out.

"It should be, 'Do not pass go -- straight in (to jail)'."

Mr Mitchell said a special court should be established to deal with gang bashings, hearing matters almost immediately and sentencing those convicted to a minimum three years in jail.

The community was sick of the "catch and release" method of dealing with street assaults, he said.

Mr Mitchell said it was awful to regularly read of violence on Melbourne's streets.

In the wake of Sunday's attack on Sgt Ward, the Police Association has called for a minimum one-month jail term for anyone who assaults a police officer.

Mr Mitchell said it was also time to examine whether Melbourne's licensed venues should be allowed to stay open beyond 1am.

"Someone once told me nothing good happens after 2am. Luke was killed at 2.30am," he said.

Mr Mitchell and his mother, Carol, spoke to the Herald Sun at a beach at Sanctuary Lakes, near Point Cook, where a memorial to Luke will be unveiled on Sunday.

It will be placed in the same spot, about 1km from his home, where Luke would relax and take photos.

The memorial, organised by the local community, will bear the words: "When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened."

Mrs Mitchell said the memorial was a wonderful gesture.

"We're devastated at his loss but it's an honour that they want to do it," she said.

Mrs Mitchell said she had been moved by the public reaction to her son's bravery, which ultimately cost his life.

"One lady we didn't even know said she was happy to know there were people who were still prepared to step in," she said.

"I think people have had enough of all this."

The family also called on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to introduce a good Samaritan week to the Australian calendar.

Luke Mitchell died hours after being attacked during a night out on May 24.

Two men suspected of the killing fled to Thailand later that day.

They are still at large and it remains unclear when they will be returned to Australia.