BROTHERS Jordan and Dominic Von Stanke have been jailed for their “vicious and unprovoked” attack on Bordertown man Rex Court, which led to his tragic death.
Yesterday, during sentencing in the Adelaide District Court, Judge Geraldine Davison described the pair’s assault on the night of May 13, 2017 as “savage and brutal”.
“It may have only taken 39 seconds, but that was all that was necessary to inflict the fatal blow or blows,” Judge Davison said.
The court heard, at around 9pm on the evening in question, a dispute started between two groups of people on Commercial Street East.
When tensions escalated, a fight broke out between the two groups.
One youth phoned Jordan Von Stanke informing him they were being “attacked by crackheads”.
Jordan was in a vehicle driven by Dominic and both attended the scene of the altercation a short time later.
“When you arrived you, Jordon Von Stanke, got out of the car and saw the deceased confronting four or five individuals,” Judge Davison said.
“You approached and then turned the deceased around and punched him to the jaw.”
For the next 39 seconds Jordan and Dominic inflicted a “brutal” attack on 32-year-old father of three – Mr Court.
“During that period of time, fatal injuries were inflicted upon the deceased who was offering no resistance and no threat to you or anyone else.” Judge Davison said.
Mr Court was found by emergency services a short time later, laying unconscious on the footpath.
He was transferred to the Mount Gambier Hospital before being flown to the Flinders Medical Centre, where he died the following day.
Judge Davison said the seriousness of the injuries meant the application of force was used during the assault must have been severe.
“This type of fracture is commonly associated with car accidents, falls from great heights or crushing injuries,” Judge Davison said.
After the injuries were inflicted, both Jordan and Dominic fled the scene before hiding the vehicle and destroying their clothing.
Judge Davison cited victim impact statements, which had been read to the court during sentencing submission in December.
“What is clear from them is that your offending has had a significant and lasting effect upon many people,” Judge Davison said.
“It has left people struggling with a feeling of emptiness and grief.”
She accepted that both Dominic and Jordan had shown remorse and contrite since the offending.
However, she said the offending was neither on the low or high end of seriousness for an offence of manslaughter.
Therefore an immediate term of imprisonment to be served was warranted.
Outside court, Mr Court’s family members said the sentence was “better than they expected”.
“Rex was a great person who did not deserve to die,” a family member said.
“Rex’s life was taken too soon by two people that did not even know him.”
