This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Prosecutors will not file charges over a punch that killed a doll maker on Jan. 19 in South Salt Lake.

Investigators determined Kerry Brown, 42, was the aggressor on the night he died, said South Salt Lake police Sgt. Gary Keller.

Police arrested the man who threw the fatal punch, Tristan Hamel, 20, on suspicion of assault. Hamel left jail after posting bail.

"Brown was apparently intoxicated," Keller said Monday. "He came at Tristan in an aggressive manner. Tristan punched him one time. [Brown] fell on the ground and hit his head and died of injuries."

Keller did not know specifically why the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office declined to file charges. But Utah law allows individuals to defend themselves from attackers.

Brown made and repaired dolls at Davidson Doll Hospital, 2804 S. State St.

Store owner Terry Davidson said he is OK with the prosecutors' decision.

Davidson said criminal charges only would have added pain to the Brown and Hamel families.

"Those families have known each other for a long time," Davidson said.

Twitter: @natecarlisle