VON Stanke brothers Jordan and Dominic accepted their role in the street brawl – which resulted in the death of Bordertown man Rex Court – when they pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges yesterday.
Both men, aged in their 20s, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court to enter pleas to the lesser charge following ongoing negotiations between the defense counsel and prosecution.
The matter was then adjourned for arraignment on October 5, with home detention bail to continue.
The pair had 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.
The downgraded offence of manslaughter relates to a fight that occurred 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 that 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 will appear in the Adelaide Youth Court on Friday for sentencing submissions in relation to injuries inflicted on Mr Wilson.
A 22-year-old man was also taken to Mount Gambier Hospital after also suffering injuries sustained while trying to break up the fight.
