Shaquill Joachim, 19, from Mooroopna, and Jim Velos, 20, from Shepparton, pleaded guilty to assault and affray in the Koori Court division of Shepparton County Court.
Velos also pleaded guilty to recklessly causing serious injury, while Joachim also pleaded guilty to the summary charge of contravening a bail condition.
Prosecutor Courtney Cameron told the court the pair got into a fight with two other men at a taxi rank outside the Victoria Hotel at 4.45am on March 20.
The court heard the pair became agitated after overhearing one of the victims speaking to their relative — who was also a distant relative of the victim.
The pair began to push the 24-year-old, who backed away from them with his now 23-year-old friend.
Joachim then punched the 23-year-old in the head three times and he fell to the ground, Ms Cameron said.
Velos then punched the 24-year-old once in the head, knocking him unconscious and causing him to fall to the ground, striking his head on the footpath.
Joachim then continued kicking and pushing the 23-year-old.
The court was told when a woman went to help the 24-year-old who was unconscious on the ground, Joachim pushed the man’s head out of the woman’s hands before lifting his leg like he was going to stomp on the victim’s head.
A number of witnesses tried to stop the assault, before Joachim and Velos left.
The court was told both victims were taken to Goulburn Valley Health by ambulance.
The 24-year-old was flown to Royal Melbourne Hospital in an induced coma, before being released from hospital on March 25.
The court also heard how Joachim has a criminal record but Velos does not.
As part of the Koori Court sentencing discussion with Elders, Velos told how he did not often drink alcohol and had never been in a fight before.
He said he had given up drinking alcohol since the assault and was disgusted about what he had done.
“I could have killed someone,” he said.
“This will stay with me forever. I never want to hurt someone again.”
In his sentencing conversation with the Elders, Joachim was chastised for his behaviour and criminal history and told what had occurred was “absolutely disgraceful”.
There were also discussions about how he needed to seek help from others if he needed it.
The matter was adjourned until February for further plea, so that psychological assessments could be done for both accused, as well as a neuropsychological assessment for Joachim.
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