Man jailed over death walks from Qld court

A young man who who started the fight that led to the one-punch death of a promising Brisbane teenager has walked from court.

Daniel Maxwell was on Thursday sentenced to 18 months in prison but he was able to leave the Brisbane Supreme Court after hearing his punishment.

His sentence was wholly suspended and he had already spent 19 months behind bars awaiting trial.

His victim, promising sportsman Cole Miller, never regained consciousness after he and his best friend Nick Pace crossed paths with Maxwell in Fortitude Valley in January, 2016.

While out celebrating his 21st birthday Maxwell had already tried to assault several people.

He asked his friends if they wanted to see "something funny" before challenging Mr Miller and punching the 18-year-old elite water polo player in the chest, the court heard.

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 died in hospital two days later.

Renata has pleaded guilty to unlawful striking causing death.

He was due to be sentenced in June but had his hearing postponed after being charged with assaulting prison guards while in custody.