This Amendment Paper amends the Crimes Amendment Bill to introduce an 8‑year minimum mandatory sentence for the new offence of manslaughter by strike to the head or neck (commonly known as a coward punch). The bill recognises the seriousness of coward‑punch attacks by creating a standalone manslaughter offence with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. However, without a statutory minimum, sentencing outcomes may vary significantly. This amendment ensures a consistent and serious baseline penalty for conduct that causes death through a sudden, unprovoked strike.