Brothers back in court over fatal street bashing

BEHIND BARS: Jordan and Dominic Von Stanke

VON Stanke brothers Jordan and Dominic will appear in the Adelaide District Court today for sentencing submissions in relation to last year’s manslaughter of Bordertown man Rex Court.

Both men, aged in their 20s, pleaded guilty to manslaughter earlier this year after the Director of Public Prosecutions downgraded the charge of murder.

The two men have been on home detention bail since December after it was granted by Judge Nicholson on strict conditions and only if a guarantee of $40,000 was lodged to the court.

According to Adelaide media, Dominic was refused a bail variation last Friday to attend a family Christmas party on Sunday.

A condition of his home detention bail banned him from attending the address where the party was taking place.

Judge Geraldine Davison did not find it appropriate to grant the variation just days before the men were due to appear in court for sentencing submissions.

The downgraded offence of manslaughter relates to a fight on Commercial Street East on May 13 last year when Mr Court – a 32-year-old father of three – was killed.

Mr Court and two other men were walking along the street when they became involved in a verbal argument with a large group of up to “eight to nine men and six to seven women” on the opposite side of the road.

The three men crossed the road and approached the group, where they were then punched and kicked several times by the group of males.

During the assault, witnesses reported seeing a black Ford Territory pull up and the Von Stankes were seen to exit and join in the assault before driving off again.

The prosecution has previously claimed in court it took the Von Stankes just 39 seconds to spear tackle Mr Court, throw him to the ground with a cracking sound and inflict ultimately fatal kicks and stomps.

The initial group involved in the assault left the area before patrols and paramedics arrived.

Mr Court and Anthony Wilson were both airlifted to Flinders Medical Centre with serious injuries.

Mr Court was later pronounced dead, while Mr Wilson received serious injuries, however survived.

A 16-year-old boy was placed on a good behaviour bond this year for assault causing serious harm.

A 22-year-old man was also taken to Mount Gambier Hospital after also suffering injuries sustained while trying to break up the fight.