Von Stanke brothers plead guilty to manslaughter over street brawl death of Mt Gambier man Rex Court
TWO brothers have pleaded guilty to manslaughter over the street brawl death of Mt Gambier man Rex Court after striking a plea bargain deal with prosecutors.
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TWO brothers have pleaded guilty to manslaughter over the street brawl death of Mt Gambier man Rex Court after striking a plea bargain deal with prosecutors.
Jordan and Dominic Von Stanke were originally charged with murder but today pleaded guilty, in the Adelaide Magistrates Court, to the lesser charge of manslaughter.
The Advertiser reported last month the men were negotiating a plea deal with prosecutors.
The brothers, both of Carpenter Rocks, 35km outside Mt Gambier, were arrested and charged with one count each of murder.
Prosecutors alleged they killed Mr Court, 32, in a street brawl on May 13 last year following a verbal altercation.
They further alleged the duo took 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 brothers, however, maintained the incident was not a murder but a street fight, and that their actions could well have been in self-defence.
In July, prosecutors sought an adjournment to consult with Mr Court’s family before the case “resolved without trial” – indicating attempts to broker a plea bargain.