Von Stanke brothers appear in court over manslaughter death of Rex Court at Mount Gambier

Two brothers who admitted bashing a man to death in Mt Gambier last year engaged in a violent assault that continued even after the victim lay helpless on the ground, a court has heard.

Two brothers who admitted bashing a man to death in Mt Gambier last year engaged in a violent assault that continued even after the victim lay helpless on the ground, a court has heard.

Jordan Von Stanke, 25, and his 21-year-old brother Dominic faced the District Court in Adelaide for sentencing submissions on Tuesday after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of father Rex Court, 32.

Prosecutor Mark Norman said nothing Mr Court did could have justified the violent attack that continued after he was thrown to the ground and lay “helpless and very likely already unconscious”.

Mr Norman said the offending was at the higher end of the scale for crimes of manslaughter.

The court also heard nine emotional victim impact statements, including one from Mr Court’s young daughter and others from his sisters, mother and former partner.

The Von Stanke brothers also read apologies, telling the Court family that they did not seek forgiveness and expressing their sorrow over what they had done.

Jordan and Dominic Von Stanke admitted bashing Rex Court to death in Mt Gambier.

Victim Rex Court.

In her statement, Mr Court’s sister Sarah Danielson said her “heart is shattered in every possible way”.

Another sister, Samantha Warner, told the brothers that while the bashing only lasted two minutes, the pain would last forever for her family and friends.

“The brutality of what you did chills me to the bone,” she said.

“You kept going when he was unconscious, when you knew what you had done was so wrong.

“You left him there to die.”

Mr Court’s former partner, Cheyanne Wilson, said what was a “night of fun” for the brothers had turned into a “night of torture” for her family.

“This is not a dream. This is real and we are living a nightmare, a nightmare that has no end,” she said.

The Von Stanke brothers were initially charged with murder but admitted to manslaughter after brokering a deal with prosecutors.

In previous court appearances it was alleged they threw Mr Court to the ground during the altercation where they kicked and stomped on him.

After fleeing the scene, they burnt their clothes in a bid to destroy forensic evidence.

Mr Court was left with severe head injuries and died after being flown to Adelaide for emergency treatment.

In his apology, Jordon Von Stanke said his heart ached for Mr Court’s family.

“If I could take back what I did I would do so 100 times over,” he said.

Judge Geraldine Davison adjourned further sentencing submissions until February, but revoked the brothers’ home detention bail ahead of imposing an inevitable jail sentence.