A Victorian teen who repeatedly stomped on a grandfather's head while he lay defenceless on the ground on Christmas Day has been sentenced to a two-year youth detention order.
The now-19-year-old pleaded guilty in the Victorian Supreme Court to the manslaughter of Anthony Clark, who died in hospital three days after he was assaulted on December 25, 2019.
The 50-year-old grandfather was struck with a baseball bat by another man during an altercation outside his home in Mooroolbark in Melbourne's northeast.
The 19-year-old, who was aged 16 at the time, then stomped on Mr Clark's head three or four times while he was laying on the ground.
Justice Jane Dixon described the teen's actions as "brazen and callous", noting the boy left the scene without trying to help Mr Clark.
He also lied to police about his involvement in the incident and bragged to friends that he had killed someone.
In her sentencing remarks delivered on Wednesday, Justice Dixon noted the boy had been immature and impressionable at the time, and his behaviour on Christmas Day 2019 was partly influenced by the slab of pre-mix drinks he had consumed.
She said youthfulness was no excuse for violence, but the teen's guilty plea, lack of prior or subsequent convictions and good prospects of rehabilitation meant he should be sent to a youth detention centre rather than an adult prison.
The 19-year-old was convicted and sentenced to two years in youth detention.
The man charged with hitting Mr Clark with a baseball bat was found not guilty of manslaughter earlier this year.
