'Not fair': Mum of young man killed in wild brawl lashes out at alleged killer's release on bail

The mother of a young man killed during a wild brawl in Adelaide has lashed out after his alleged attacker was released from custody.

Julie Kelbin left court on Wednesday visibly devastated following the decision, after the death of her 22-year-old son Jack Hanley who was fatally struck in the head during the brawl on Hindley Street in the early hours of December 10.

"This is my baby boy, I haven't got him ever again," Kelbin said.

"This boy is going home to his family, it's not fair."

His alleged attacker, Reece Watherston, 20, was released from custody to live with his parents in Port Augusta on strict bail conditions until his next court appearance in March.

With no criminal history, Watherston's lawyer told the court it wasn't a one-punch attack but an altercation involving 15 people that had ended in "tragic circumstances".

But Hanley's family disagreed, saying they are now burdened by the death of their son for the rest of their lives.

"My family was destroyed the morning Jack was killed - our mother and father have lost a son, we lost our brother," sister Moana Ward said.

"Jack is never coming home. We have to bury Jack now, this is our life sentence."

Wearing the basketball singlet her son will be buried in, Kelbin said she was appalled with the court's decision.

"I am absolutely devastated that this man can be home with his family for Christmas," she said.